Jerry Seinfeld has retracted his explosive claim that the “far-left” politically correct gang has killed comedy.
In April, the iconic comedian, 70, caused a stir when he told the New Yorker’s David Remnick that hypersensitivity has ruined comedy, claiming that people are now “so worried about offending people.”
The Seinfeld star fondly remembered the days when people would come home and turn on the TV to watch comedies like “Cheers,” “MASH” or “All in the Family.”
“Well, guess what? Where is it? Where is it? This is the result of the far left and PC c**p and people who worry so much about offending other people,” he said.
Now Seinfeld has expressed his “regret” over comments he says are “not true” in a groveling appearance on radio. last episode from comedian Tom Papa’s Breaking Bread podcast.
Jerry Seinfeld has retracted his explosive claim that the “far-left” politically correct gang has killed comedy
In April, the iconic comedian, 70, caused a stir when he told the New Yorker’s David Remnick that hypersensitivity has ruined comedy and claimed people now worry ‘so much about offending people’ – pictured in Seinfeld in 1989
About the controversy, he said: “I said the far left has suppressed the art of comedy. I said that. That’s not true. It’s not true.
“If you’re Lindsey Vonn, if you’re a champion skier, you can put the gates on the mountain wherever you want, she’s going to make the gate
‘Whatever the culture, we create the gateway. If you don’t make it to the gate, you’re out of the game…
‘Is the culture changing? And are there things that I used to say that I can’t say, that everyone is always moving? Yes, but that’s the biggest, easiest target
‘The accuracy of your perception must be a hundred times finer.
“So I don’t think that, as I said, the far left has done anything to hinder the art of comedy.”
Seinfeld previously told the New Yorker’s Radio Hour that even though people crave comic relief, they can no longer find it on TV.
“Nothing really affects the comedy. People always need it. They need it so much and they’re not getting it.’
About the controversy, he said: “I said the far left has suppressed the art of comedy. I said that. That’s not true. It’s not true’
Seinfeld previously told the New Yorker’s Radio Hour that while people crave comic relief, they can no longer find it on TV – pictured March 27, 2024
His comments drew criticism from his own Seinfeld co-star Julia-Louis Dreyfus, who labeled his comments a “red flag warning.”
During an interview with the New York Times, the actress said political correctness can actually be “fantastic.”
“When I hear people start complaining about political correctness — and I understand why people push back on it — but to me that’s a red flag because sometimes it means something different,” Louis-Dreyfus, 63, told the publication. ‘I don’t think it’s a bad thing to be aware of certain sensitivities. I don’t know how else to say it.’
Louis-Dreyfus won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series seven times: once for The New Adventures Of Old Christine (2006-2010) and six more times for the role of Selina Meyer in Veep (2012-2019).
Additionally, she won the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series for Seinfeld (1989-1998) during her nine-season run on the legendary sitcom starring Jerry Seinfeld.
“My feeling about all this is that political correctness, as far as tolerance goes, is obviously fantastic,” the acclaimed actress said. “And of course, I reserve the right to call out anyone who says something that offends me, while also respecting their right to free speech, right?”
The New York City native admits that certain comedies and dramas of yesteryear simply don’t work anymore under modern scrutiny, but his awareness of changing cultural norms should be acknowledged.
When Louis-Dreyfus was asked directly about Seinfeld’s comments on political correctness, he emphasized how comedy has evolved over the decades.
“If you look back at both comedy and drama, let’s say 30 years ago, through the lens of today, you might find bits and pieces that don’t age well,” said the TV veteran of more than 40 years of experience. “And I think having an antenna for sensitivities isn’t a bad thing.”
The former Saturday Night Live cast member added, “It doesn’t mean that all comedy goes out the window.”
In his comments, he was criticized by his own Seinfeld co-star Julia-Louis Dreyfus – who labeled his comments a ‘red flag warning’; the duo is pictured in September 2013
While Louis-Dreyfus agreed with the premise of the iconic stand-up comedian’s statement, she cited her reasoning for being more focused on the sitcom being “too unique,” rather than it not being PC would be enough for that time.
She further admitted that it is “good to be vigilant” and keep up with the changing times and culture, citing that even some great films and television shows from the past may contain beliefs and attitudes that “wouldn’t be acceptable today are’.
“Probably not,” were her exact words when she initially asked if Seinfeld could be made today. “I mean, what the hell else is happening on network television?
Seinfeld is no stranger to criticizing those he considers PC – “politically correct” – gangs.
In 2015, he warned other comics not to perform on college campuses because they were too politically correct.
About nine years later, Seinfeld says political correctness is alive and well on network television, and comedy fans are getting around that by going to live comedy shows instead.
“Now they’re going to see stand-up comics because it’s not overseen by anyone. The public is watching us. We know when we are off course. We know immediately. And we adapt to it immediately,” Seinfeld said.
Seinfeld said that people who want to be successful comedians must be able to work within the boundaries of what society deems acceptable, using the metaphor of gates in skiing.
Seinfeld is no stranger to criticizing those he considers PC – “politically correct” – gangs. In 2015, he warned other comics not to perform on college campuses because they were too politically correct
Seinfeld added that the organic process of trial and error doesn’t happen in TV boardrooms and jokes are ignored.
“But if you write a script and it ends up in four or five different hands, committees, groups – ‘Here’s our thoughts on this joke’ – then that’s the end of your comedy,” he said.
“With certain comedians now, people are having fun when they cross the line, and we all laugh about it.
“But then again, it’s the stand-ups who really have the freedom to do it because no one else gets to blame if things don’t go well. He or she can take all the blame [themselves.]’
At a time when pro-Palestinian protests are raging on college campuses across the country, Seinfeld, who is of Jewish descent, was confronted by angry agitators outside the State of the World Jewry speech in New York City in February.
Journalist Bari Weiss gave the speech, and as Seinfeld left the event, protesters repeatedly shouted at him “liberate Palestine” and “you support genocide.”
Seinfeld waves to the hostile crowd as he gets into his car to drive away.
Seinfeld revealed to the Times of Israel in December 2023, just over two months after the war in Gaza began, that he “lived and worked on a kibbutz in Israel when I was 16 and have loved our Jewish homeland ever since.”
He concluded by saying that he would “always stand by the side of Israel and the Jewish people.”