Comedian Jerry Seinfeld has retracted his earlier claims that the “extreme left” is damaging comedy. During a podcast appearance, he expressed regret for comments made in an April interview with The New Yorker, where he argued that political correctness had stifled humor and left television devoid of comedy.
In an interview in April, the Seinfeld creator decried the current state of television, saying, “You just expected there’ll be some funny stuff we can watch on TV tonight. Well, guess what—where is it? This is the result of the extreme left and PC culture.” He criticized how multiple stakeholders in the scriptwriting process could dilute comedic content.
However, in a recent episode of Tom Papa’s Breaking Bread podcast, Seinfeld reversed his stance, admitting he regretted his earlier claims. “I said that the ‘extreme left’ has suppressed the art of comedy. I did say that. That is not true. It is not true,” he clarified. Seinfeld acknowledged that while cultural changes can impact what comedians can say, he no longer believes the extreme left inhibits comedy. “I’m taking that back now officially. They have not,” he asserted.
Seinfeld’s initial remarks sparked backlash from fellow comedians, including his Seinfeld co-star Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who countered on the On With Kara Swisher podcast that the current comedic landscape is thriving with innovation. Stephen Merchant, co-creator of The Office, added that the perceived policing of comedy has shifted, suggesting the political right has taken on the role of enforcing standards.
Others argued that any perceived decline in new comedy is more likely a result of changing viewing habits rather than political correctness, highlighting Seinfeld’s historically apolitical style.
Seinfeld also addressed misconceptions regarding his performances at colleges, asserting, “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 acknowledged the enthusiasm of younger audiences for political engagement but suggested they might need to better understand the role of comedy in social discussions.
Watch the clip below:
