Jerry Seinfeld Withdraws Claim That Extreme Left Is Ruining Comedy

Comedian Jerry Seinfeld has walked back previous statements he made about the “extreme left” affecting comedy in a recent appearance on the Breaking Bread podcast with Tom Papa.

“I said that the extreme left has suppressed the art of comedy,” Seinfeld acknowledged. “I did say that. It’s not true.” He clarified that his earlier remarks were inaccurate and emphasized, “They have not. Do you like it? Maybe, maybe not. It’s not my business to like or not like where the culture is at.”

More Details on Seinfeld’s Comment

Seinfeld had made these comments earlier in 2023 while promoting his Netflix movie Unfrosted.

At the time, he attributed the decline in television comedies to political correctness, saying, “This is the result of the extreme left and PC crap, and people worrying so much about offending other people.”

However, during his recent interview, Seinfeld retracted those sentiments, noting, “It’s not my business to like or not like where the culture is at.”

Seinfeld further elaborated on the nature of comedy in today’s culture, comparing comedians to Olympic skiers. He likened the shifting cultural landscape to skiing down a hill, saying, “Whatever the culture is, we make the gate… If you don’t make the gate, you’re out of the game.” He added that even though certain things can no longer be said, “So what? The accuracy of your observations has to be much finer to be a comedian today.”

Seinfeld’s original comments about the “extreme left” had received mixed reactions, including criticism from his Seinfeld co-star Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

In an interview with The New York Times, Louis-Dreyfus commented on the broader issue, saying, “When I hear people complain about political correctness, it sometimes means something else.” She further explained, “Being aware of sensitivities is not a bad thing.”

Seinfeld acknowledged during his conversation with Papa that he didn’t expect his comments to attract so much attention. “I didn’t know people cared what comedians say,” he remarked.

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Seinfeld Responds To Misinterpretation About His Unwillingness To Perform At Colleges

The comedian also responded to a long-standing misinterpretation about his unwillingness to perform at colleges.

While promoting Unfrosted, some believed Seinfeld refused to perform at universities due to students being “too politically correct.” He clarified on the podcast, “First of all, I never said it, but if you think I said it, it’s not true. I play colleges all the time.” He added that he has no problem with younger audiences and performs for them frequently.

He reflected on the experience, joking that sometimes he makes statements without fully realizing their impact until later. “We just like talking,” he quipped, admitting that he sometimes finds himself reconsidering his words the next day.

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