The genre of comedy often referred to as “dark” has grown to be an issue sparking debate about political correctness in comedy. The ‘VEEP‘ star, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, has recently come forward top offer a nuanced take on the issue.
The actress was speaking with The New York Times when she asserted the importance of sensitivity without compromising the essence of humor. Her comments interestingly come shortly after her co-star Jerry Seinfeld’s comments, where he defended comedy against the impact of the “extreme left“. Here’s what Louis-Dreyfus said.
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Julia Louis-Dreyfus Talks About Political Correctness In Comedy
Julia Louis-Dreyfus addressed the evolution of comedy and drama over the past three decades during her recent interview, emphasizing how it has drastically changed over the years. “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.
“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,” she added. Louis-Dreyfus argued that the debate over political correctness in comedy is complex.
“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 don’t know how else to say it,” she said.
In case you missed it: ‘Seinfeld’ Star Jason Alexander Once Threatened To Quit The Show Due To His Character George Costanza’s Low Screen Time
Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s Comments Are In Sharp Contrast With Her Co-Star Jerry Seinfeld’s Recent Comments
Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s comments come in the wake of remarks made by her ‘Seinfeld‘ co-star, Jerry Seinfeld. In a recent interview on The New Yorker Radio Hour podcast, Seinfeld criticized what he sees as the impact of the “extreme left” on television comedy.
“It used to be, you would get home at the end of the day and most people would say, ‘Oh, Cheers is on. MASH is on. Mary Tyler Moore is on. All in the Family is on,’” Seinfeld lamented. “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 crap, and people worrying so much about offending other people,” he added.
While Louis-Dreyfus did not directly respond to Seinfeld’s comments, her statement was in stark contrast with his views. She said the value lies in maintaining a balance between being sensitive to current cultural norms and keeping comedy alive and well. “Of course, I reserve the right to boo anyone who says anything that offends me while also respecting their right to free speech,” she said.
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