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Veteran comedian Bill Burr unleashed on critics of his recent trip to Saudi Arabia, saying he doesn't "give a f---" what anyone thinks about his appearance at a comedy festival in Riyadh.
The outspoken comic made the remarks during a special live recording of "Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend" on Sunday, responding to backlash over performing in the kingdom amid concerns about human rights and free expression.
"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.
Burr's remarks came after he and approximately 50 other comedians traveled to the Middle East to appear at the Riyadh Comedy Festival, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The festival, organized under Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, was promoted as part of the kingdom's Vision 2030 cultural reforms, though critics contend such events are meant to gloss over the country's human rights record.
At one point, however, Burr insisted the festival served as a sign of forward progress in the region.
"The general consensus is, 'How dare you go to that place and make those oppressed people laugh, you f---ing piece of s---. I can't believe you went to that place. I can't find it on a map, and this bot said I was upset about it, so now I am,'" he quipped.
Burr likened human rights violations in Saudi Arabia to current events occurring inside the U.S., particularly drawing on immigration raids conducted under the Trump administration.
"We're f---ing grabbing moms and dads and sticking them in a van for making illegally made f---ing tacos to go to Alligator Alcatraz," he said.
"It's f---ing insane and, someday, they're going to be out of brown people to put in those vans, they're still gonna have the vans, so you shouldn't be feeling comfortable about it. Thinking that you're not going to be in it."