Comedy legend Jerry Seinfeld recently changed his views about how political correctness affects comedy. Last year, Seinfeld believed overly sensitive cultural norms were limiting comedic freedom. But in a new interview, he acknowledged this was false and offered a revised perspective.
In April, Seinfeld told The New Yorker he felt frustration over perceived censorship from the “extreme left.” He complained classic sitcoms were disappearing and scripts faced too much scrutiny. However, on a podcast this month Seinfeld admitted he was wrong. “I did an interview where I said the extreme left suppressed comedy, but that’s not true,” he said.
Seinfeld used a skiing analogy to explain his new thinking. He said great comedians can navigate any cultural issue like expert skiers navigate a changing mountain course. “Whatever the culture is, we make the gate,” Seinfeld stated. “You don’t make the gate, you’re out of the game.”
On the topic of restricting language, Seinfeld also took a more accepting view. “You can’t say certain words about groups. So what?” he remarked, adding comedians must craft their jokes with far greater precision.
Seinfeld also clarified claims he avoided college performances due to sensitive students. “I play colleges all the time with no problem,” he said, mentioning a recent show at Indiana University.
Seinfeld’s retraction aligns with views from Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who disputed the idea comedy suffers today. His flip shows comedy’s complex relationship with social change, and that views can evolve through open discussion. As a legendary comedian, Seinfeld’s reconsidered stance may influence debates on humor as cultures continue rapid transformation.
