(NewsNation) — It’s not just American comedians hypocritically jumping on the Saudi Arabian money train.

Musicians Post Malone, Benson Boone and DJ Calvin Harris are all being paid eye-watering sums to headline the SoundStorm Music Festival in Riyadh, Dec. 11 to 13.

As with other big-name celebrities who perform in the pariah country, these musicians are likely being paid $1 million (minimum) for their time plus travel and five-star accommodations.

The festival is part of what Human Rights Watch says is a “whitewashing” effort by the country to cover up its prolific record of human rights abuses and “brutal” repression of free speech. 

Reps for the three musicians didn’t return emails for comment.

Comedians slammed for performing Saudi Arabia

The news broke a week after more than 50 international comedians, including Louis CK, Aziz Ansari, Hannibal Buress, Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart, Jessica Kirson and Pete Davidson, were slammed for performing at the Riyadh Comedy Festival.

Dubbed the “world’s largest comedy festival,” the comedians were slammed by their peers for attending (and accepting the massive payouts).

Shane Gillis announced he had taken a “principled stand” against the event after organizers offered him a “significant amount” of money and said: “You don’t 9/11 your friends.” 

Zack Woods said on Instagram: “Name one comedian who hasn’t whored themself out to a dictator.” 

Aziz Ansari, Bill Burr defend decision to perform at Riyadh

The comedians who performed are now on the back foot and trying to defend themselves. 

Bill Burr told Conan O’Brien on “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend” podcast he had no regrets, saying: “I really don’t give a f—, and if it affects my career, I’ve been to LAX enough in my life, I’ll f—ing sit home for a little bit,” Burr said.

Aziz Ansari claims he had a talk with his team about donating part of his fee to organizations like Reporters Without Borders and Human Rights Watch and told Jimmy Kimmel: “I share the concerns that people have brought up, and it’s all valid … it’s a complicated issue, but I felt like it’s something that pushing things in the right direction, I hope.”

Meanwhile, lesbian comic Jessica Kherson, who also performed at the festival, gave an exclusive statement to the Hollywood Reporter, which read in part: “On Sept. 29, I performed at the Riyadh Comedy Festival. This decision has weighed heavily on my heart ever since. I like to express my sincere regret for having performed under a government that continues to violate fundamental human rights.”

Homosexuality is not only illegal in Saudi Arabia but can be punishable by death. 

It is de rigueur for Saudi Arabia to pay famous names a minimum of seven figures to perform in the human rights-stained country. 

The figures only went up after 2018, when Washington Post journalist Jamaal Khashoggi was brutally murdered by a team of 15 Saudi guards who dismembered him and burned his body inside the Saudi Consulate in Turkey.   

Celebs take Saudi millions despite human rights record

As I noted last week: The murder caused a huge international outcry — but it’s one that, with money and time, can be forgotten … at least by Hollywood. 

Just a year after Khashoggi’s killing, Mariah Carey accepted $2 million to perform in Jeddah as part of the inaugural Saudi International Golf Tournament being held at the Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City. 

That same year, “Aquaman” star Jason Momoa, who has reportedly struck up a friendship with the powerful Saudi royal Mohammed bin Salman, joined the Joy Forum 2019 and has made several all-expense-paid trips over the years ever since.  

After Carey and Momoa and the press outrage that followed, there were a few years where no one went to the Middle East Kingdom.  

But in 2023 — five years after Khashoggi’s murder — the drought ended. 

The same year, Manahel al-Otaibi, a women’s rights activist, was subject to “forcible disappearance” where she was tortured, and a 27-year-old Saudi man was sentenced to 500 lashes and five years’ imprisonment for homosexuality in Jeddah.

The Saudi royals held the Red Sea Festival to promote their entertainment industry. 

No matter to Hollywood stars looking for cash because that was the year Will Smith was paid $1 million to attend the Festival, according to Variety. 

Johnny Depp, still reeling from his divorce and proceedings with Amber Heard — and had yet to score another Hollywood contract — also scored a similar amount to hang out at the Festival … as did Halle Berry, also not reeling in the movie big bucks, who was also on the $1 million Saudi list.  

However, the “big get” for the Red Sea Festival was Gwyneth Paltrow, who, despite her stance on feminism and women’s rights, attended the event and was, according to her biographer, Amy Odell, paid even more … a whopping $1.6 million. 

A year later, in 2024, Celine Dion warbled in the country for a rumored seven-figure amount, despite it also being the year that Saudi Arabia had its highest number of state executions — setting modern-era records — many for nonviolent drug offenses. Homosexuality at the time was still punishable by prison, flogging and/or death. 

So while it is disgusting these comedians would flock to Saudi Arabia for cash, let’s never forget Ricky Gervais’ astute monologue during the 2020 Golden Globes, where he said to a room full of shocked — shocked! — actors, “If ISIS started a streaming service, you’d call your agent, wouldn’t you?” 

Yes, they would … and they are.

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