"They're paying for absolution" is too optimistic. It implies that you actually get absolution after paying. I'm sure most of the SJWs who buy this garbage still feel guilty afterwards. The Medieval Church was more generous in this regard.
I think a simpler (and more generous) way to put this would be that people patronize the arts based on political, ethical, and religious considerations. Wokeness is somewhere between an ethical framework and a pseudo-religion. I don't have a problem putting their money there if that's what they believe in. I'd rather not put my gaming budget (or my tax dollars) into it however.