Jerry Seinfeld is trying to restore sanity to the universe, saying in a New York Times Magazine interview that jokes “are not real.” And then the comedian was asked to weigh in on James Gunn getting fired from “Guardians of the Galaxy.”
Here are those relevant snippets from the interview:
NYTM: You’ve been outspoken about stand-up audiences being too sensitive and politically correct these days. Have you ever apologized for a joke?
Seinfeld: No. Jokes are not real. People assume that when you say something that you believe it. It’s purely comedic invention. You know, I do this whole bit about Pop-Tarts and how much I love them. I don’t love Pop-Tarts. It’s just funny. It’s funny to say it, so I say it.
NYTM: What did you make of James Gunn, the “Guardians of the Galaxy” director, getting fired for his old Twitter jokes?
JS: I didn’t read the jokes, but if they’re jokes, it doesn’t matter. I guess Roseanne Barr thought she was being funny, but it wasn’t funny — and if it’s offensive and not funny, then it’s not a joke. But any comedian that doesn’t understand that dynamic, you’re finished anyway.
Seinfeld has been outspoken about his issues with the reception of comedy these days. The “Seinfeld” star and co-creator has said that he won’t perform at colleges anymore because of the politically correct climate. He’s not alone — buddy and fellow crossover star Chris Rock stays away from university campuses as well.
Read the full New York Times Magazine interview here.
Gunn, the writer-director of Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” franchise, was canned by Disney after a series of since-deleted tweets resurfaced in which the filmmaker made what he admitted were “offensive” jokes about taboo topics like rape and pedophilia.
Right-wing provocateur Mike Cernovich and other online sleuths dug up dozens of old tweets of the sort Gunn admitted were “offensive,” many from between 2008 and 2011. The highlighting of his tweets appeared to be retaliation for critical things Gunn had posted about President Trump.
“Expendables is so manly I f-ed the s- out of the p-ssy boy next to me,” Gunn wrote in one old tweet.
“The best thing about being raped is when you’re done being raped and it’s like ‘whew this feels great, not being raped!’” read a tweet from February 2009.