Julia Louis-Dreyfus didn't mince words when asked what she thought in response to former co-star Jerry Seinfeld's recent blaming of political correctness for the decline of TV sitcoms.
In an interview with The New York Timesfirst Seinfeld The star praised the idea of political correctness (“to the extent that it equates to tolerance”) as “fantastic” and identified it as a “red flag” when a comedian complains about it.
“If you look back at comedy and drama, say 30 years ago, through today's lens, you can find bits and pieces that don't age well. And I think that having an antenna on sensitivities is not bad,” said Louis-Dreyfus in the first part of his conversation with journalist Lulú García-Navarro. “This doesn't mean all comedy goes out the window as a result.”
He continued: “When I hear people start complaining about political correctness, and I understand why people might reject it, but to me that's a red flag, because sometimes it means something else.”
To put it in context, Jerry Seinfeld blamed the demise of network comedies on “the far left and the PC crap and people who care so much about offending other people” in April while speaking with The New Yorker. Although Louis-Dreyfus did not mention it by name, it is clear that she feels something very different.
Reviewing the topic in the second part of it. New York Times In the interview, the actress gave her personal definition of political correctness and shared what she believes is the “real threat to art.”
“My feeling about all of this is that political correctness, to the extent that it amounts to tolerance, is obviously fantastic,” Louis-Dreyfus explained. “And of course I reserve the right to boo anyone who says something that offends me, while respecting their right to freedom of expression, right? But the biggest problem – and I think the real threat to art and art creation – is the consolidation of money and power. All this isolation from studios, media, streamers and distributors, I don't think it's good for the creative voice.”
Louis-Dreyfus also reiterated that it is good to be “vigilant” about “the different lenses” through which comedy and drama are created today: “Even the classically wonderful and indisputably great films of the past are plagued by attitudes that today they would not be acceptable. “
Lately, Louis-Dreyfus has steered away from comedy about any of that. Seinfeld and the political satire of veep in a wider variety of roles. Last year she starred in the comedy-drama A24. You hurt my feelings, and his next movie, Tuesdaysees her playing the mother of a terminally ill daughter.
Louis-Dreyfus has also joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the mysterious countess-turned-CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine and will reprise the role in the next MCU film. Good heavens.
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