Several conservative commentators lauded Jerry Seinfeld this week following online criticism directed at him for suggesting that political correctness is dampening comedy’s vitality.
The online furor erupted after a clip of the comedian, famed for his role in the ’90s sitcom “Seinfeld,” circulated widely on social media platforms on Sunday. In an interview with The New Yorker, Seinfeld lamented the disappearance of the golden era of comedy.
Seinfeld’s interview became a focal point in the ongoing internet debate over “wokeness,” with some conservatives hailing his comments and others condemning his viewpoint.
A representative for Seinfeld did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
YouTube personality Benny Johnson, known for hosting “The Benny Show,” lauded Seinfeld’s outspoken stance on the “Left’s destruction of comedy,” deeming it a “powerful” moment.
Elon Musk also shared an audio snippet of Seinfeld’s interview, originally posted by the X account End Wokeness, with a rallying cry: “Make comedy legal again!”
Fox News anchor Sean Hannity echoed Seinfeld’s sentiments in a post on X.
During the interview, Seinfeld, promoting his upcoming Netflix movie “Unfrosted,” remarked on the altered landscape of joke-writing, asserting that stand-up comedians now wield the true freedom.
Actor Rob McElhenney, co-star and co-creator of the hit comedy series “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” joined the online conversation, expressing skepticism. In a post on X, McElhenney responded to Seinfeld’s musings about whether a ’90s sitcom episode would be approved in today’s climate, responding with a curt “Probably,” alongside a screenshot referencing one of his show’s more controversial characters.
Some online commentators argued that Seinfeld’s humor wouldn’t resonate in today’s context because it lacks relevance, while others posited that “Seinfeld” thrived in an era devoid of streaming competition.
NPR TV critic Eric Deggans weighed in on X, suggesting that contemporary comedies on air do not necessarily face the same barriers as those described by Seinfeld.
“I think Jerry is regurgitating excuses from people who had projects die, for who knows what reason. Network TV isn’t spending money on scripted shows. The TV audience isn’t interested in old school sitcoms,” he wrote. “There’s lots of other possible reasons for why there aren’t as many sitcoms on network TV and no evidence that wokeness has killed anything.”
