Regrets: Jerry Seinfeld's Path to Redemption Comedian Jerry Seinfeld has expressed regret over a comment he made earlier this year, stating that peopl
Regrets: Jerry Seinfeld’s Path to Redemption
Comedian Jerry Seinfeld has expressed regret over a comment he made earlier this year, stating that people with leftist politics had "suppressed the art of comedy." In a recent appearance on Tom Papa’s podcast, Breaking Bread, Seinfeld took back his words, saying, "That’s not true. It’s not true."
A Change of Heart
Seinfeld made his original comment during an appearance on The New Yorker Radio Hour this spring, promoting his recent Netflix comedy film, Unfrosted. At the time, he suggested that television comedy had suffered due to "the extreme left and PC crap, and people worrying so much about offending other people." However, on Papa’s podcast, he refuted this claim, saying, "I did an interview with The New Yorker, and I said that the extreme left has suppressed the art of comedy. That’s not true. It’s not true… If you’re Lindsey Vonn, if you’re a champion skier, you can put the gates anywhere you want on the mountain; she’s gonna make the gate. That’s comedy. Whatever the culture is, we make the gate. You don’t make the gate, you’re out of the game. The game is: Where is the gate, [and] how do I make the gate and get down the hill?"
The Influence of Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Seinfeld’s costar Julia Louis-Dreyfus may have played a part in helping the comedian see the error of his ways. During an interview with The New York Times, she disagreed with him, stating, "I think to have an antenna about sensitivities is not a bad thing. It doesn’t mean that all comedy goes out the window as a result." Seinfeld, who has praised Louis-Dreyfus’s intelligence and wit, may have been swayed by her argument.
Regarding the Controversy
On Breaking Bread, Seinfeld continued to explain his change of heart, saying, "Does culture change, and are there things I used to say that I can’t say [because] everybody’s always moving [the gate]? Yeah, but that’s the biggest, easiest target. You can’t say certain words, whatever they are, about groups—so what? The accuracy of your observation has to be a hundred times finer than that to just be a comedian."
Conclusion
Seinfeld ended his mea culpa by "officially" taking back his claim that "the extreme left has done anything to inhibit the art of comedy." He also refuted the idea that he wouldn’t perform at colleges anymore because students have become too politically correct.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What did Jerry Seinfeld say about the extreme left?
A: He initially stated that the extreme left had "suppressed the art of comedy," but later took back his words, saying, "That’s not true. It’s not true."
Q: How does Julia Louis-Dreyfus feel about Seinfeld’s initial comment?
A: She disagreed with him, stating, "I think to have an antenna about sensitivities is not a bad thing. It doesn’t mean that all comedy goes out the window as a result."
Q: Will Seinfeld continue to perform at colleges?
A: Yes, he clarified, "I play colleges all the time. I have no problem with kids, performing for them. In fact, I was just at the University of Indiana, Kentucky; we did [the University of Texas]. I mean, I do colleges all the time."
COMMENTS