Julia Louis-Dreyfus has again pushed back on the idea that political correctness is killing comedy after her longtime friend, Jerry Seinfeld, recently suggested that’s the case.
In an “On with Kara Swisher” podcast interview released this week, the “Veep” star was prompted to talk about the topic by host Kara Swisher.
“I’m not going to wade you into the Seinfeld controversy because I think it has nothing to do with you, but I’d love to know what you think is funny now … I think there’s a lot of talk about how comics can’t be funny now,” Swisher said.
“I think that’s bullshit. Physical comedy and intellectual comedy, political comedy — I think, has never been more interesting because there’s so much to do,” Louis-Dreyfus said.
“Comedy is risky, and it can be offensive, but that’s what makes it so enjoyable,” she added.
“I personally don’t buy the conceit that this is an impossible time to be funny,” she continued. “Maybe some people aren’t laughing at your jokes, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be made.”
Louis-Dreyfus did not mention her former “Seinfeld” co-star while making the remarks.
Seinfeld’s comments in an April New Yorker interview made headlines that month. In the interview, he asserted that the “extreme left and P.C. crap” was hurting televised comedy.
In a New York Times profile published earlier this month, Louis-Dreyfus was asked about the controversial take, and she pushed back, saying it was a “red flag” to hear people complain about political correctness.