Jerry Seinfeld has retracted his explosive claim that the 'far left' killed off politically correct mob comedy.
The legendary comedian, 70, caused an uproar in April when he told the New Yorker's David Remnick that oversensitivity had killed comedy and that people were now too concerned about offending people.
The Seinfeld star fondly remembers 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 It's a result of the far left and PC c**p and people worrying too much about offending other people,' he said.
Now Seinfeld has expressed his 'regret' over comments he says are 'not true' in a nasty appearance on the latest episode of comedian Tom Papa's Breaking Bread podcast.
Jerry Seinfeld has retracted his explosive claim that the 'far left' killed off politically correct mob comedy.
In April, the 70-year-old legendary comedian told the New Yorker's David Remnick that oversensitivity has killed comedy and that people now worry too much about offending people — pictured in Seinfeld in 1989.
Commenting on the controversy, he said: 'I said comedy has been crushed by the far left. I said it. That is not true. That is not true.
'If you're Lindsey Vonn and you're a champion skier, you can put gates anywhere on the mountain, she's going to make the gate.
'Whatever the culture, we cater. You didn't create an exit gate from the game…
'So does culture change? And are there things I can't say, everyone is always moving. Yes but that is the easiest target
'The precision of your observation must be a hundred times more subtle than that.
'So as I said I don't think the far left has done anything to stop comedy.'
Seinfeld previously told The New Yorker's Radio Hour While people crave comedic relief, they can't find it on TV.
'Nothing beats a joke. People always need. They need it so badly, they just don't get it.
Commenting on the controversy, he said: 'I said comedy has been crushed by the far left. I said it. That is not true. That's not true'
Seinfeld previously told The New Yorker's Radio Hour that while people want comic relief, they can't find it on TV anymore – Picture March 27, 2024
His comments earned him criticism from his own Seinfeld co-star Julia-Louise Dreyfus – who branded his comments a 'red flag warning'.
During the interview with New York Times, The actress said that being politically correct would actually be 'awesome'.
“When I hear people start complaining about political correctness — I understand why people would put it off — but to me that's a red flag because sometimes it means something else,” Louis-Dreyfus, 63, told the publication. 'I believe that being aware of certain sensitivities is not a bad thing. I don't know how else to say it.'
Louis-Dreyfus has 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 for her role as Selena Meyer on Veep (2012–2019).
On top of that, she won Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (1989-1998) for Seinfeld during the nine-season run of the legendary sitcom starring Jerry Seinfeld.
“My feeling about it all is that political correctness equals tolerance, which is obviously wonderful,” said the acclaimed actress. 'Surely I have the right to reprimand anyone who says anything that offends me, while respecting their right to free speech, right?'
The New York City native acknowledges that certain comedies and dramas from the past won't hold up under modern scrutiny, but must sensitively acknowledge changing cultural norms.
When asked directly about Seinfeld's comments on political correctness, Louis-Dreyfus emphasized how comedy has evolved over the decades.
'If you look back at both comedy and drama, 30 years ago, through today's lens, you can see bits and pieces that haven't aged well,' said the TV veteran of more than 40 years. 'I don't think it's a bad thing to have a more sensitive antenna.'
The former Saturday Night Live cast member added that the result doesn't mean all comedy goes out the window.
His comments earned him criticism from his own Seinfeld co-star Julia-Louise Dreyfus – who labeled his comments a 'red flag warning'; Both are pictured in September 2013
Louis-Dreyfus agreed with the iconic stand-up comedian's predecessor in his statement, citing his reasoning that the sitcom was 'too idiosyncratic' as opposed to PC enough for the times.
Acknowledging that 'it's better to be aware', he cited that even some of the best movies and TV shows of the past contain beliefs and attitudes that are 'unacceptable today' to adapt to changing times and culture.
'Probably not' were his exact words when initially asked if Seinfeld could be made today. 'I mean, what's going on with network television anymore?
Seinfeld is no stranger to criticizing what he sees as PC – 'politically correct' – mobs.
In 2015, he warned other comics not to perform on college campuses for being politically correct.
Nearly nine years later, Seinfeld says political correctness is alive and well on network television, and comedy fans are avoiding it by watching live comedy shows instead.
'Now they're going to see stand-up comics because they're not being policed by anyone. The audience controls us. Know when we're off track. We know right away. We fix it right away,' Seinfeld said.
Seinfeld said that aspiring comedians must operate within the parameters that society deems acceptable, using the metaphor of gates in skiing.
Seinfeld is no stranger to criticizing what he sees as PC – 'politically correct' – mobs. In 2015, he warned other comics not to perform on college campuses because they were politically correct.
Seinfeld said the organic process of trial and error doesn't happen in TV boardrooms and jokes aren't taken.
“But if you write a script and it's four or five different hands, crews, crews – 'our idea of this comedy' – well, that's the end of your comedy,” he said.
'Now with some comedians, people are pushing their boundaries and having fun and we all laugh at that.
But then again, stand-ups have the freedom to do that because no one else gets the blame if it doesn't go well. He or she can take all the blame [themselves.]'
At a time when pro-Palestinian protests are taking place on college campuses across the country, Seinfeld, who is of Jewish descent, was confronted by angry protesters outside his State of the World Jewish address in New York City in February.
Addressed by journalist Barry Weiss, as Seinfeld left the event, protesters repeatedly shouted at him to 'free Palestine' and 'you support genocide'.
Seinfeld can be seen waving to a hostile crowd as he gets into his car.
Seinfeld revealed to The Times of Israel in December 2023, two months after the start of the war in Gaza, that he 'lived in a kibbutz in Israel when I was 16, and I have loved our Jewish homeland ever since.'
He concluded by saying 'I will always stand with Israel and the Jewish people.'
