Jerry Seinfeld has recently clarified his earlier remarks about political correctness in comedy. In an interview, Seinfeld addressed his previous comment, where he claimed the “extreme left” was affecting humor. He retracted the statement, saying his earlier remark was not true. In the previous interview, he discussed the challenges comedians face in today’s culture.
Jerry Seinfeld says his comment about ‘extreme left’ is ‘not true’
In a discussion with Tom Papa on Breaking Bread, Seinfeld said, “I did an interview with The New Yorker, and I said that the extreme left has suppressed the art of comedy. I did say that. That’s not true. It’s not true.” He expressed regret, saying, “There were two things that I have to say I regret saying and that I have to take back.”
Seinfeld clarified that while he initially claimed the “extreme left” and political correctness were stifling humor, he now believes that cultural shifts are a normal part of comedy’s evolution. “Whatever the culture is, we make the gate. You don’t make the gate, you’re out of the game,” Seinfeld said, comparing comedians’ adaptability to a skier navigating gates on a mountain.
The comedian also addressed a widely circulated misconception that he refuses to perform for college students due to their politically correct attitude. He refuted this, stating, “I have no problem with kids, performing for them,” and mentioned that he regularly performs at colleges. (via Deadline)
In an April interview with The New Yorker, Seinfeld had linked the decline of network sitcoms to political correctness and noted that stand-up comedians enjoy more freedom. However, he has since distanced himself from these comments, emphasizing the importance of adjusting to cultural changes.
Seinfeld further explained his view that while certain words may now be off-limits, this does not hinder the art of comedy. “You can’t say certain words… so what?” he remarked. Seinfeld concluded by suggesting that his initial comments were overstated and not reflective of the current state of comedy.
