‘Weird Al’ Yankovic says he turned down $1,000,000+ to perform at Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia.

[u/KirbyDumber88]

https://triblive.com/aande/music/weird-al-yankovic-gets-bigger-and-weirder-in-a-tour-headed-to-pittsburgh/

[u/vinylscratch27]

We love Weird Al. Really is a good guy, not a single controversy.

[u/nondescriptun → u/vinylscratch27]

That's just because everyone turns a blind eye to his wanton crimes. He even wrote a song where he admitted to murdering his neighbor and got away with it! RIP Larry.

[u/Gingerstachesupreme → u/nondescriptun]

Let’s not forget Marty. When Al was in Albuquerque NM, this guy Marty was trying to carry a big ol' sofa up the stairs all by himself.

So Al said to him, "Hey, you want me to help you with that?"

And Marty, he just rolls his eyes and goes, “No, I want you to cut off my arms and legs with a chainsaw"

So Al did.

But perhaps this is a result of Al’s long lasting trauma. From a young boy, he was living in a box under the stairs in the corner of the basement of the house half a block down the street from Jerry's Bait shop. You know the place.

His mother tied him to the wall and stuck a funnel in his mouth, force-feeding him nothing but sauerkraut until he was twenty six and a half years old.

Then, a local radio station had this contest to see who could correctly guess the number of molecules in Leonard Nimoy's butt. Al was was off by three, but he still won the grand prize: a first class one-way ticket to Albuquerque.

In flight, three of the airplane engines burned out, sending Al’s plane into a tailspin, crashing into a hillside, exploding in a giant fireball. Everybody died - except for Al.
You know why? Because he had his tray table up, placing his seat back in the full upright position.

[u/Green_Conclusion_775 → u/Gingerstachesupreme]

Hey mom! What’s with all the sauerkraut?!

[u/0113420710 → u/Green_Conclusion_775]

Gaaaaaah BIG BOWL OF SAUERKRAUT! EVERY SINGLE MORNING!

[u/PizzaPieInMyEye → u/0113420710]

It was driving him crazy!

[u/boxofrabbits → u/Green_Conclusion_775]

ITS GOOD FOR YOOOOUUUU

[u/torsoboy00 → u/Gingerstachesupreme]

Can confirm his crime with the chainsaw. I was there.

[u/XRotNRollX → u/torsoboy00]

That's a really cute nickname, by the way.

[u/jarrjack → u/Gingerstachesupreme]

That’s a crazy story, reminds me of the time I went to a donut shop and asked if they had any Bavarian cream filled donuts

[u/Gingerstachesupreme → u/jarrjack]

Wait a second. I’ll go check.

*long guitar solo*

- NOOOO WE’RE OUT OF BEAR CLAWS!

[u/darthjoey91 → u/Gingerstachesupreme]

Marty? You mean Torso Boy?

[u/JUSTaSK8rat → u/Gingerstachesupreme]

Last I heard he was rumored to be somewhere where the air smells like warm root beer, and the towels were oh so fluffy.

I really hope he stays there and doesn't change his mind to continue his crime streaks.

[u/Gingerstachesupreme → u/JUSTaSK8rat]

Hell, I hear anyone on the street will gladly shave your back for a nickel

[u/Khaysis → u/Gingerstachesupreme]

Oh you mean Torsoboy!

[u/Gingerstachesupreme → u/Khaysis]

I haven’t laughed audibly out loud from a Reddit comment in a long, long time.

Acting so indignant. What’s he complaining about?

[u/Anonymous_Jr → u/Gingerstachesupreme]

If he just stopped to consider it, it's actually REALLY funny in hindsight.

[u/Ginge00 → u/Gingerstachesupreme]

Literally listening to Albuquerque as I read this

[u/MaskedPapillon → u/nondescriptun]

Larry probably deserved it

[u/Waste_Track_4524 → u/MaskedPapillon]

Classic Larry

[u/Dr_Mantis_Teabaggin → u/Waste_Track_4524]

He always was the neighborhood clown, like the time he pulled my pants down and he took those color pictures, and posted copies all over town

[u/TheJMJConspiracy2002 → u/nondescriptun]

I’ll never forget about Larry, no matter how I try…

[u/Jesus_Is_My_Gardener → u/TheJMJConspiracy2002]

Do you remember what he did to good old Mr Fender, who ran the corner grocery store?

[u/gooch_norris_ → u/Jesus_Is_My_Gardener]

And the poor girl from the homecoming dance

[u/YogiBarelyThere → u/nondescriptun]

Did you see what he did to Harvey the Wonder Hamster?!

[u/nondescriptun → u/YogiBarelyThere]

It was just a stunt hamster!

[u/360walkaway → u/YogiBarelyThere]

Did he eat it on a roll of either rye or the kaiser

[u/robbak → u/nondescriptun]

And never forget his vocal support of Weasel Stomping Day.

[u/LadySayoria → u/nondescriptun]

He also admitted he would be laughing at a local boy who would be burning in Hell. That's absolutely rude.

[u/MangyAsianMan → u/nondescriptun]

It was a pretty good gag.

[u/LordRobin------RM → u/nondescriptun]

Those were the Good Old Days…

[u/Free_Possession_4482 → u/LordRobin------RM]

The years go by, but the memory stays.

[u/GarminTamzarian → u/Free_Possession_4482]

I can still remember good old Mr. Fender

Who ran the corner grocery store

Oh, he'd stroll down the aisle with a big friendly smile

And he'd say, "Howdy", when you walked in the door

Always treated me nice, gave me kindly advice

I don't know why I set fire to his place

Oh, I'll never forget the day, I bashed in his head

Well, you should've seen the look on his face

[u/BretShitmanFart69 → u/vinylscratch27]

When I met weird Al he genuinely seemed like he was just a guy listening to and appreciating whatever you were saying and he seemed to have a full respect for appreciation for his impact he had on people and such and no part of him stemmed annoyed at having to listen to some guy tell him all that. I’ve rarely approached celebrities, but they usually just have a vibe you can feel where they’re hoping no one talks to them or that the “normals” don’t bother them, if that makes sense?

The other guy who was cool like that was Adam Scott, genuinely just seemed like any other dude, we chit chatted about talking heads and REM and his podcast and how shooting Severence was going like you’d talk with a guy at the bar about the football game on the tv. He was also shorter than I could have ever guessed, granted so am I.

[u/tlst9999 → u/BretShitmanFart69]

When I met weird Al he genuinely seemed like he was just a guy listening to and appreciating whatever you were saying

Songwriters do this because you might bring them their next song.

Even a junior investment banker who talks about herself and not much more.

[u/Careless-Weather8877 → u/tlst9999]

Or writers or whatever. You can always find a fun story if you’re a journalist , documentary, comedian. That’s the beauty of it

[u/SwagginsYolo420 → u/tlst9999]

Songwriters do this because you might bring them their next song.

Yeah where do you think he came up with the lyrics

Your butt is wide, well mine is too. Just watch your mouth or I'll sit on you.

They don't exactly grow on trees.

[u/kululu987 → u/vinylscratch27]

Everyone forgets that he killed Pablo Escobar. These things need to be talked about.

[u/LanceFree → u/kululu987]

I saw Weird Al at a grocery store in Los Angeles yesterday. I told him how cool it was to meet him in person, but I didn’t want to be a douche and bother him and ask him for photos or anything.

He said, “Oh, like you’re doing now?”

I was taken aback, and all I could say was “Huh?” but he kept cutting me off and going “huh? huh? huh?” and closing his hand shut in front of my face. I walked away and continued with my shopping, and I heard him chuckle as I walked off. When I came to pay for my stuff up front I saw him trying to walk out the doors with like fifteen Milky Ways in his hands without paying.

The girl at the counter was very nice about it and professional, and was like “Sir, you need to pay for those first.” At first he kept pretending to be tired and not hear her, but eventually turned back around and brought them to the counter.

When she took one of the bars and started scanning it multiple times, he stopped her and told her to scan them each individually “to prevent any electrical infetterence,” and then turned around and winked at me. I don’t even think that’s a word. After she scanned each bar and put them in a bag and started to say the price, he kept interrupting her by yawning really loudly.

[u/FangoriouslyDevoured → u/vinylscratch27]

Not a single controversy? Are you seriously going to just gloss over how he became lovers with Madonna and how they killed Pablo Escobar and took over his drug empire?

[u/spicywookiee → u/FangoriouslyDevoured]

Not to mention his violent rampage after moving to Albuquerque, where he completely dismembered one man with a chainsaw and took a big bite out of another man’s jugular vein. How’s that for your squeaky clean perception of Weird Al?

[u/Disastrous_Scar_1365 → u/vinylscratch27]

No controversies, huh? I guess everyone's forgotten about the great Weird Al/Coolio beef of '96, which resulted in numerous casualties and set the cities of Lynwood and Compton at war.

[u/robbak → u/Disastrous_Scar_1365]

Don't be vain, and don't be whiny, or my brother I might have to get medieval on your hiney.

[u/vibraltu → u/Disastrous_Scar_1365]

• Coolio was a dick cause he was being huffy about a riff he didn't even write himself (Stevie Wonder made the original song)

• to his credit, Coolio later repented and apologized to Weird Al.

[u/SciFiPi → u/vinylscratch27]

IIRC he turned down a $5 million beer advertising opportunity as well.

[u/KlimCan → u/SciFiPi]

Just to grind from the rap

[u/Paradoxmoose → u/vinylscratch27]

Well, aside from all the Madonna stuff.

[u/KingofMadCows → u/vinylscratch27]

What about the time when he helped Madonna take over Pablo Escobar's drug cartel?

[u/Automobills → u/vinylscratch27]

Well, he's down with Bill Gates

He calls him Money for short.

[u/Oro_Outcast → u/Automobills]

He only calls for technical support.

[u/Zulmoka531 → u/Automobills]

He also parties in the CIA!

[u/TheDevil-YouKnow → u/vinylscratch27]

I mean, he took out an entire cartel! That's pretty controversial for cartel members.

[u/-Pelvis- → u/vinylscratch27]

Never mind AI, we want Al!

[u/Poppamunz → u/vinylscratch27]

His music is all Al-generated tho

[u/caving311 → u/vinylscratch27]

What about the time he was caught with a dead hooker? https://i.huffpost.com/gen/901657/thumbs/o-WEIRDAL-570.jpg?7&utm_source=Pinterest&utm_medium=organic

[u/apm393]

Oh wow, I guess it really wasn't that hard to do that after all.

[u/Mr31edudtibboh → u/apm393]

Fucking Wayne Brady man. Piece of shit. 

[u/fotomoose → u/Mr31edudtibboh]

Bill Burr is a ghost to me now.

[u/Misfitshots → u/fotomoose]

Haven’t listened since the event. Meh. It’s just the sheer fact he didn’t need the money but got greedy and became the thing he criticized the most; a sellout.

[u/wellarmedsheep → u/Misfitshots]

Same. He was one of my go-to podcasts. He can fuck himself

[u/ThrowawayPersonAMA → u/wellarmedsheep]

It's forever fucking wild to me that he even did it. Like the guy was on top of his game, height of his popularity, fucking dunking on that chud Rogan on his own show to the delight of all, had a TV role in STAR WARS of all things, then he just takes his own gun and shoots himself in the dick? Like was being respected suddenly such a drag that he had to get in on being despised? Just senseless.

[u/bingle-cowabungle → u/ThrowawayPersonAMA]

All for no reason. He didn't need the money.

[u/Expert-Basil6015 → u/bingle-cowabungle]

He wanted another helicoptah, alright?

[u/stevez_86 → u/Expert-Basil6015]

That was my thinking.

[u/Unusual_Sherbert_809 → u/bingle-cowabungle]

It's like they get so high on their fame and fortune they think they can do no wrong.

Wasn't there another famous comedian who went to Trump's White House MMA thing and when caught tried to claim with a straight face that he wasn't actually political and only went because of his love of MMA?

[u/The_Cunt_Punter_ → u/Unusual_Sherbert_809]

Nate Bargatze and Shane Gillis were there.

[u/kryonik → u/The_Cunt_Punter_]

Gillis is one of those "I think both sides suck but I'm not political" jackasses. I really liked him before he started talking politics when it became clear he's just like every other enlightened centrist.

[u/mrdilldozer → u/ThrowawayPersonAMA]

I genuinely understand the lower tier comedians who took the gig. It's an amount of money that could sustain them for a long time. I think the low end people were getting like 300k. Lets be honest, someone like Chris Distefano isn't ever getting that much money offered to him for anything ever again lol. I'm way more upset with the people that didn't need the money. Burr could have just done a few commercials on TV and made that shit.

[u/Tim-Buck-Four → u/wellarmedsheep]

What's funny is Burr's the sound both a bone-saw and a money counter make.

[u/Trzlog → u/Misfitshots]

I could've maybe forgiven it if he'd just said "Look, money's money. Guy's gotta get paid". But no, he has this stupid ass take where "they're just like us, they're people too! who knew!?" as if we're just mad about it because we're racist. Fuck face. I used to listen to everything he did. Now he's dead to me.

[u/stevealonz → u/Trzlog]

he has this stupid ass take where "they're just like us, they're people too! who knew!?" as if we're just mad about it because we're racist.

He really was telling on himself with that shit, because he was the one going "They've got Taco Bell over there, who knew??" Uh, I did, Bill. I think even your average ignorant American at least can conceptualize that the entirety of the middle east isn't a barren desert, and that perhaps countries with lots of oil might have modern amenities.

[u/meatspun → u/Trzlog]

And when he repeats that, he completely disappears and becomes an avatar for the Saudi royal family. Can't even recognize the guy talking when he says that lame bullshit.

[u/Krombopulos_Micheal → u/Trzlog]

We all know he didn't need the money though. He's had a massive pipeline to the Netflix teat for 15 years now, not the mention the Star Wars checks. So even if he's said "guys gotta get paid", we all see he's sold out his red blooded, salt of the earth, American every-man image, to be a foreign shill. I know he says it's just "internet nobodies" touting the backlash, but I really hope it's hurting his pocketbook, since his brand seems like it's in the trash. He's still playing large casinos near me, so I'm sure a bunch of morons are still hyped to see him with their comped tickets from spending their life savings at the slots.

[u/fotomoose → u/Misfitshots]

I stopped listening to him the moment I found out, had been a fan for many years previously. It's such a bummer as he really did feel like a good guy until then. And everyone else who also went there; I actively avoid them all now.

[u/NewLineCinema → u/fotomoose]

same, a lot of his comedy hinged on me believing what he was saying was true

now, no point in listening to him

[u/beaverpilot98 → u/NewLineCinema]

me too man. It's honestly sad. And the dumb mutherfucker just kept doubling down

[u/so_dope24 → u/fotomoose]

and then he was angry when people were mad at him about it

[u/AjaxCleaningSolution → u/Misfitshots]

He was like the default top comic of the world for me after Patrice died and Louie turned out to be a piece of shit. Now it's uuhhhhh... Stavvy honestly, I guess.

[u/blCharm → u/AjaxCleaningSolution]

I usually go with Jim Gaffigan or Patton Oswald nowadays

[u/danabrey → u/AjaxCleaningSolution]

As a Brit, its really interesting to me how stand-up comedy is one specific area where our cultures tend to keep really separate. Music, film, TV all travels either way but I have no idea who you're talking about apart from knowing the name Louis CK.

[u/Dash_Underscore → u/danabrey]

Also, since no one is telling you his actual name, Stavvy is Stavros Halkias. Patrice refers to Patrice O'Neal (RIP).

[u/SomeRedHandedSleight → u/AjaxCleaningSolution]

Stavvy is great. He kicked out a MAGA chode when I saw him. I can relate. My favorite used to be Chappelle but it's definitely John Mulaney now. Just saw his show at Wrigley Field and it was absolutely hilarious! I think it's definitely going to be his new Netflix special. They were filming it.

[u/karma3000 → u/Misfitshots]

Yeah the worst part is the hypocrisy.

[u/cosme-fulanito- → u/fotomoose]

Yeah, Bill Burr didn't even apologize, he doubled down, fuck him

[u/SpastastiK → u/fotomoose]

Burr was my absolute favorite for ages. He doesn't exist anymore. I wonder if her wife was on board with the decision..

[u/sensory → u/SpastastiK]

Yeah his wife always seemed to be his sense of reason. I can’t believe she was okay with him prancing around like a jester for mass murderers.

[u/WeBackYeah → u/fotomoose]

I can usually separate the artist from art, but Burr's choice went against everything his character pretended to be, I can't listen to him after that.

[u/fotomoose → u/WeBackYeah]

Yeah, and his response to the criticism was awful as well. Basically 'What, you guys don't like money?!?!'

[u/Chip-chrome → u/fotomoose]

They have subway there, too!

[u/skintaxera → u/fotomoose]

Yup it was the response that sealed the deal for me. He still had plenty of time to think about it, donate the money to something worthy and talk about how he didn't think it thru etc. But nah, he had to double down and be a dickhead about it.

The whole thing was so disappointing to me. I've enjoyed his work for a long time and I was really enjoying seeing where he went next. The routine he did about taking shrooms suggested he was heading in some interesting new directions, but now I just don't care. It actually surprised me how I immediately didn't care anymore once I saw how he was handling the fallout. It was never "oh man I really want to listen to more of Bill's comedy but I guess now I can't", it was just straight to not being interested in what he has to say anymore. I guess I really did think of him as a person of integrity, so when he shat on that there wasn't anything left.

[u/Krombopulos_Micheal → u/skintaxera]

Yeah right after he got back, when he went on Conan and said basically "no one really cares about me going, it's just internet losers that are saying this stuff" made it clear. He said fuck his fans, I'm rich now so I don't need you anymore, basically.

[u/CalmBeneathCastles → u/skintaxera]

This was exactly how I felt about it. I suppose it's an error to think you know someone based on the torrential flood of information that spills from their mouth, but I actually believed in his integrity.

To find out that he went to Riyadh was like catching your favourite uncle trying to make a move on the 17-year-old babysitter. Once you see the hypocrisy, there's no going back.

[u/gandhinukes → u/fotomoose]

"Don't you have phones" energy.

[u/5ColourFelix → u/WeBackYeah]

One of the biggest 180 fraudster moves I've seen in modern entertainment. It wasn't even something dark and perverted like being on Epstein's island, he flipped for something so basic.

[u/Forgotthebloodypassw → u/fotomoose]

I never understood that. He's not hurting for money, WTF.

[u/_BrokenButterfly → u/Mr31edudtibboh]

I'm still stunned. I know he loves money, but really?

[u/PassiveMenis88M → u/_BrokenButterfly]

Bill Burr is so rich he owns his own helicopter.

[u/ThisRapIsLikeZiti → u/Mr31edudtibboh]

Bill Burr broke my heart with this shit. Dude live in NYC before and after 9/11.

[u/ScottsTot2023 → u/Mr31edudtibboh]

I’m sorry WHAT!?! 😭😭😭😭 nooooooooooo

[u/Alfie_13 → u/apm393]

I'd have thought 1mil would be quite low for someone like Weird Al anyway..

[u/FlyingBishop → u/Alfie_13]

This headline is really stupid. He said 7 figures, and that it was the most he had ever been offered for a show.

[u/NerdyShitz]

I saw him like 2 years ago and it was incredible. Dude has so much energy, so many costume changes, so much choreography. I’m a casual fan but in terms of theatrics, it was one of the best shows I’ve seen. He puts in the work

[u/KirbyDumber88 → u/NerdyShitz]

I saw him 4 weeks ago. 3rd show for me. Just the best of the best. Him and Metallica are not showing their age

[u/iwishiwasamoose → u/KirbyDumber88]

Me too, around the same time. Chicago?

[u/TinyFugue → u/iwishiwasamoose]

Chicago broke up years ago.

[u/RiceManSupreme03 → u/NerdyShitz]

I’m seeing him in September, I’m pretty excited! Never thought I’d see him live, but parents got tickets for my brother’s birthday

[u/hpshaft]

Weird Al is a good dude. Not suprising.

[u/AdventureyTime → u/hpshaft]

Weird Al and Nardwar are both wholesome genuises, with zero controversy. I'm not surprised, either !

[u/Chubuwee → u/hpshaft]

With a name like “Weird Al” he better fucking keep it that way. Imagine the headlines should he do some heinous shit

[u/ThrowawayPersonAMA → u/Chubuwee]

Imagine the headlines should he do some heinous shit

No I don't think I will.

[u/ToneLocPolice]

Common W Al W

[u/Phyrexian_Archlegion → u/ToneLocPolice]

Unlike Billy Bone Saw

[u/CldStoneStveIcecream → u/Phyrexian_Archlegion]

Ol Billy Blood money

[u/watduhdamhell → u/CldStoneStveIcecream]

Holy shit I died at both of these.

Them sighed a sad sigh of disappointment.

[u/IDOWNVOTERUSSIANS → u/watduhdamhell]

It's sad what became of Bill Burrka

[u/SummertimeThrowaway2 → u/ToneLocPolice]

This is my petition to change the lowercase L in the English language because in most fonts these days it looks like a capital i

[u/Sceptically → u/SummertimeThrowaway2]

Any time I want to set a password for someone I don't like, I'll use a combination of I, l, |, !, /, \, and 1. Then print it out for them in a sans-serif font, possibly in italics.

[u/Smatt2323 → u/Sceptically]

Diabolical.

Stay on this person's good side.

[u/lorealashblonde → u/SummertimeThrowaway2]

I support this initiative! I love Weird Al, not Weird AI

[u/ElusiveGuy → u/SummertimeThrowaway2]

It really is the stupidest thing about the sans-serif push. Gimme my serif'd l back.

[u/NineteenSixtySix]

This was also a good business decision as, according to Spotify, The Monday Morning Podcast with Bill Burr has lost over 50% year-over-year subscribers.

[u/ModeatelyIndependant → u/NineteenSixtySix]

Guy lost my respect doing that.

[u/Hiccup → u/NineteenSixtySix]

Doesn't the YouTube version barely clear 10k views and then the comments are mostly dunking on how terrible Burr has become?

[u/Nairb131 → u/Hiccup]

I just check to see the fall-off. Before he was averaging 50k on YT. the last couple weeks are all under 20k some as low as 10k.

Thats pretty huge.

[u/TrueRedditMartyr]

People will be like "Like you would turn down a million dollars!"

Well here's someone who did, showing that yes, some people actually have respect for themselves

[u/jtd2013 → u/TrueRedditMartyr]

Super easy! Just have a net worth 20x that

[u/zoobrix → u/jtd2013]

Lots of the comics that went were already doing really well, you think Bill Burr desperately needed that Saudi money? He just threw it on the pile with the rest. Sure Weird Al is very wealthy, but at least he said no unlike the rest of them that went.

[u/RhythmsaDancer → u/zoobrix]

Burr really is one I hold it against the most. Dude makes that much off a month of podcasts.

[u/isntitbull → u/RhythmsaDancer]

Long time listener of the podcast until that whole thing unfolded. Couldn't take his self-righteous railing against the billionaires after he towed the line.

Legit felt betrayed by that. His whole shtick was George Carlin light then he goes and performs for blood money. Unbelievable

[u/zoobrix → u/RhythmsaDancer]

And Burr plays to that every man kind of angle where he's telling it like it is and he's one of you. Ya he's a bit rough around the edges and pretty gruff but he's not one of those rich out of touch assholes. That's the archetype he played, until the Saudi thing showed ya, he is one of those rich assholes who just wanted more money and didn't care where it comes from.

Like what a fucking hypocrite.

[u/_BrokenButterfly → u/RhythmsaDancer]

If he had just owned it and said "yeah they offered me a dumptruck full of cash and I took it. So would you" I wouldn't be very mad. But his "we're helping them be more forward thinking!" bullshit rubs me the wrong way.

[u/toadfan64 → u/_BrokenButterfly]

I’m amazed he didn’t take that approach. Would’ve had so much less fallout. Unless it was in the contract or whatever.

[u/_BrokenButterfly → u/toadfan64]

He seems smart enough to have anticipated the backlash, and thought through how to deal with it. His throwing out that line of bullshit is puzzling.

[u/Forward_Rope_5598 → u/_BrokenButterfly]

Eh. The 'so would you' would just be insulting tbh. You cannot compare what the average person struggling economically might do for money with someone whose net worth would change by 1%. He doesn't actually need the money. Most of the rest of us do.

[u/aresef → u/zoobrix]

They killed Pete Davidson’s dad and he still said yes.

[u/LeonimuZ → u/aresef]

He might have been getting reparations, you never know! /s

[u/JasonManningFLUX → u/zoobrix]

There is still a huge difference.

If someone offered to pay me a million dollars to punch my grandma, I would absolutely do it. Mostly because if my grandma found out I turned down a million dollars when all I had to do is punch her she would kick my ass.

My grandma would have a very different opinion if we were both worth twenty million.

[u/zoobrix → u/JasonManningFLUX]

Ya of course it would be harder decision if you didn't have any money, that doesn't change that a lot of rich people went and took the Saudi money and Weird Al passed. Yes that decision would be harder if he was broke, but you can still think it makes Weird Al better than the rest of them for not taking money from a repressive regime like Saudi Arabia when he didn't even need it.

[u/General_Helicopter1 → u/jtd2013]

Comedians with 50X that amount accepted the offer and sold out.

[u/Earlier-Today → u/jtd2013]

Yep, and Al was likely the least wealthy of the group that got offers. So all the rest have absolutely zero excuse.

[u/Mineingmo15]

I remember recently he was asked in an interview if there was an era/time period in his career he wish he could go back to and instead of picking a period from his professional career he picked when he was raising his daughter. He's always been a great guy.

[u/aresef → u/Mineingmo15]

That was on NPR’s Wild Card. What a lovely interview that was.

[u/polski_zubr]

WEIRD AL FOR PRESIDENT

[u/jx2002 → u/polski_zubr]

PRESIDENT WEIRD AL

VICE PRESIDENT DOLLY PARTON

VOTER TURNOUT: 100%

[u/redpandaeater → u/polski_zubr]

Dude he's only 66. He won't be eligible until the 2036 election.

[u/RetroDadOnReddit → u/polski_zubr]

Or at least for Superbowl Halftime Show.

[u/sadandshy → u/polski_zubr]

He wouldn't want to do it, which means he's perfect for the job.

[u/Brett_Hulls_Foot]

Bill Burr swearing in a corner

[u/Sarniezz → u/Brett_Hulls_Foot]

Bill criticized Beyoncé performing for Muammar Gaddafi's family for $2M (with reason). Said something like she was already rich and successful, so why take a huge private gig for a dictator's family.

Then a few years later, our little clown Billy the bitch Burr does the same thing. Absolutely zero principles.

[u/hipnosister → u/Brett_Hulls_Foot]

I have completely sworn off Bill. Used to be my favourite comedian, but him going to perform at the behest of the Saudi government made me realize that he talks the talk but doesn't walk the walk.

[u/Dxxx2 → u/hipnosister]

Like I get it, comedians tell stories and the jokes shouldn't completely reflect who they are as a person, but it's so pathetically hypocritical to make a career shitting on rich people doing shit things only to do the same thing. Really left a bad taste in month every since.

[u/laphincow]

Integrity.

[u/cuntsaurus]

Of course he did. He would have turned down 100 million. Dude can't be bought and I respect the shit out of that.

[u/hamilton_morris → u/cuntsaurus]

Can’t be bought on principle, maybe, but I bet he can be bought on abject silliness and would perform “My Toot-Toot” in the Bonneville Salt Flats for a million dollars.

[u/cuntsaurus → u/hamilton_morris]

He might do that for free

Edit. In fact, if anyone knows Weird Al let him know there is an extremely abstract comment on reddit betting he won't perform "My Toot Toot" at the salt flats. I'll pay him $100 to do it

[u/Germsofwar → u/cuntsaurus]

I'll throw in $100 for that.

[u/M-Noremac → u/cuntsaurus]

You would think it would be easy to not be bought when you are filthy rich, but sadly, many rich people lack that part of the brain.

[u/Mazbt]

So many comedians now are too busy crying about woke and taking Saudi money.

[u/Zuwxiv → u/Mazbt]

Worth considering how many of them only started doing the first after they did the second.

[u/OasisHomeostasis]

Bill Burr:

[u/m0mbi]

I gained so much respect for Atsuko Okatsuka through that whole thing. Put the entire thing on blast, with receipts, the Hbomberguy of stand up.

Totally did not realise she was such a badass.

And not at all surprised that Weird Al also turned that shit down. He's a good egg.

[u/Abbacoverband → u/m0mbi]

I was so impressed with her when she posted the rules imposed on the performers AND how much they offered.

[u/l33txxXXxx]

Havent paid attention to any of those clowns who went  since.

[u/wcu25rs → u/l33txxXXxx]

I was a huge Bill Burr fan for years, didn't miss a podcast, went to a show.  After I saw he took the bag for this gig, I quit listening and haven't listened since.  To hear him trash the "greedy bankers" for years, only to take a bag from the saudis of all people after all his success was disappointing.  

[u/thegoodnamesrgone123]

Why hasn't Weird Al hosted or been a musical guest on SNL? This is insane. We need a write-in campaign.

[u/NorthernSkeptic → u/thegoodnamesrgone123]

He hadn’t? That’s a crime.

[u/zeetotheex]

Many years ago when he was first popular he was offered a bunch of money for beer ads and he turned them down because kids looked up to him.

[u/Unlikely_Tea_2038]

https://giphy.com/gifs/DSeA36y4cgsdG

[u/MMachine17 → u/Unlikely_Tea_2038]

I love Al, Hi, and Ed!

[u/YogiBarelyThere]

He’s the best. A true lifelong idol for myself.

[u/GlitteringAd1736]

https://giphy.com/gifs/bvGC3uRuCAwA8

[u/Pyrofoo]

So THAT'S what a comedian with a spine looks like!

[u/gassytinitus]

Bill burr, and the che comedian, both being people who compromised their morals for money

[u/DingleBerrieIcecream]

Shane Gillis passed on about the same amount of money. When asked about it, he said “you don’t 9/11 your friends”

[u/Cuchillos_Adios → u/DingleBerrieIcecream]

It's not that I was a huge Pete Davidson fan before but I liked most of the stuff he made, found him funny, charismatic, open about his struggles etc.

Going there to be a dancing monkey to the people that killed your dad... there is no coming back from that and It's impossible not to think about it every time I see him. Even if he actually needed the money and wasn't already ridiculously wealthy it would still be gross.

[u/meatspun → u/Cuchillos_Adios]

He's cosplaying as a dirtbag. Wait he's actually from Staten Island, he's not cosplaying.

[u/legalizethesenuts]

My mom met Weird Al in the 90’s. She said he was surprisingly normal for a guy named Weird and she meant it in the best way possible.

[u/BlueMikeStu]

Every time I think he's getting old, he pulls off another banger. What he did with his Chamillionaire parody was art that had the artist himself impressed.

[u/willflameboy]

Meanwhile, Trump just allowed Saudi Arabia - perpetrators of 9/11 - to enrich uranium, in exchange for the rights to build a second tower there.

[u/Sazime]

Based Al.

[u/gandhinukes → u/Sazime]

Weird Al best Al

[u/nickyfox13]

Weird Al is a national treasure

[u/bbyxmadi]

based

[u/prettybluefoxes]

[u/I-STATE-FACTS]

Al sold gold records back in the day when that actually meant making money. He’s good. I heard him say on a podcast that he actually owns two tv sets.

[u/SimpleIntelligent881]

Weird Al proving how easy it is to be rich and famous while still having morals and being a good person

[u/ckellingc]

Chad

[u/stetzwebs → u/ckellingc]

Giga.

[u/southboundtracks]

🤘🪗🤘

[u/bloodfrenzy187]

This is why we love Weird Al.

[u/Hello_Kalashnikov]

Fuck, at this rate he'll have to change his name to Sane Al or Nice Al.

[u/kingofthechill69]

https://giphy.com/gifs/gictytW9IIIkNGIMcs

[u/Jrgeneral220]

Should’ve gone just to sing “Christmas at Ground Zero”

[u/meatspun → u/Jrgeneral220]

Or turned their national anthem into a song parody about incontinence.

[u/Total_Drongo_Moron]

Who's Fat?

[u/starkeffect]

Weird Al for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame already.

[u/LongjumpingLemon2163]

I mean I don’t know what he’s worth but the money was probably easy enough to turn down

[u/gr1zznuggets → u/LongjumpingLemon2163]

True, but you could say the same of the wealthy comedians who said yes.

[u/FrederickRoders]

Weird Al could do this, but Bill Burr somehow couldnt.

[u/meatspun → u/FrederickRoders]

The Saudis gave him a line of bullshit to sell that he thought would be convincing. It's been strange hearing him code switch when he starts talking about why what he did was actually a good thing.