Julia Louis-Dreyfus is offering her take on the current state of comedy amidst concerns about political correctness. The VEEP star, known for her work ranging from comedy to drama, isn’t fazed by the idea of being mindful of sensitivities in today’s climate.
In an interview with The New York Times, Louis-Dreyfus noted, 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. 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 emphasized the importance of being aware of evolving social norms without feeling creatively constrained.
Her comments come after her former Seinfeld co-star, Jerry Seinfeld, criticized what he referred to as the influence of the “extreme left” on comedy. Speaking on The New Yorker Radio Hour podcast, 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.
Louis-Dreyfus’s Balanced Perspective
Louis-Dreyfus did not directly counter Seinfeld’s claims but rather offered a nuanced view. She remarked, 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.
This sentiment reflects her approach to taking on diverse roles in film and television. Reflecting on her more dramatic turn in the film Tuesday, where she plays Zora, a mother coping with her daughter’s terminal illness, she mentioned how embracing different genres and themes hasn’t hampered her comedy career.
In addition to her balanced views on political correctness in comedy, Louis-Dreyfus humorously added, Of course, I reserve the right to boo anyone who says anything that offends me while also respecting their right to free speech.
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