In a recent exchange of views, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, the acclaimed actress, countered the assertions made by her former "Seinfeld" co-star, Jerry Seinfeld, regarding the impact of political correctness on comedy.
Seinfeld, 70, had previously expressed his concern about the state of TV comedy, attributing its decline to the influence of the extreme left and the rise of political correctness. "This is the result of the extreme left, and PC crap, and people worrying so much about offending other people," he told The New Yorker in April.
However, Louis-Dreyfus, 63, offered a different perspective on the matter, as reported by The New York Post. She argued that political correctness is "fantastic" and that it's essential to consider the sensitivities of today's audience when creating comedy. "If you look back on comedy and drama both, let's say 30 years ago, through the lens of today, you might find bits and pieces that don't age well," she explained in an interview with the New York Times. "And 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."
The "Veep" star further elaborated on her stance, suggesting that complaints about political correctness often mask deeper issues. "When I hear people starting to complain about political correctness and I understand why people might push back on it but to me that's a red flag, because it sometimes means something else. I believe being aware of certain sensitivities is not a bad thing. I dont know how else to say it.
In a subsequent conversation with the New York Times, Louis-Dreyfus reiterated her views on political correctness, equating it with tolerance. "My feeling about all of it is that political correctness, insofar as it equates to tolerance, is obviously fantastic," she stated. "And of course I reserve the right to boo anyone who says anything that offends me, while also respecting their right to free speech, right?"
The Emmy Award-winning actress also identified the "consolidation of money and power" as the "true threat to art and the creation of art," rather than political correctness. She emphasized the need for vigilance in creating art, acknowledging that even classic films from the past contain attitudes that would be deemed unacceptable today.
While Louis-Dreyfus did not directly mention Seinfeld in her comments, her views clearly contrast with his. Seinfeld had made headlines in April for blaming "the extreme left and PC crap" for the lack of beloved comedies on TV. He even suggested that some jokes from "Seinfeld" would not be well-received today.
Reflecting on the iconic comedy series, Louis-Dreyfus, who portrayed Elaine Banes on "Seinfeld," agreed that the show might not be produced today, but not due to potential backlash. Instead, she attributed it to the difficulty of getting unique content recognized in the current climate. "It was really unlike anything that was on at the time," she said. "It was just a bunch of losers hanging out. So I would say one main reason it wouldnt be made now is because its hard to get anything different recognized. Particularly nowadays, everyones sort of running scared.
Login