What's the deal with Jerry Seinfeld?

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses how Jerry Seinfeld, the famous comedian known for his apolitical comedy, has recently made headlines for his weightier political opinions and commentary. It explores how Seinfeld's public profile has become more complex, particularly due to his vocal support for Israel amidst the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which has led to backlash and criticism. The article also examines Seinfeld's stance on issues like "political correctness" and his nostalgia for traditional masculinity, which have further complicated his public persona.

🙋 Q&A

[01] Jerry Seinfeld's Political Opinions

1. What are some of the political opinions and commentary that Jerry Seinfeld has expressed recently?

• Seinfeld has repeatedly criticized "political correctness" and has expressed nostalgia for "real" men and "dominant masculinity"
• He has vocally supported Israel, including a solidarity visit to the country, even as more celebrities began advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza
• Seinfeld has reframed the criticism of his support for Israel as antisemitic

2. How has Seinfeld's political commentary been received?

• Seinfeld's comments have ruffled audiences on the left and won accolades from the right
• His co-star Julia Louis-Dreyfus has expressed wariness of comedians who complain about "political correctness"
• Seinfeld's political commentary has led to ongoing backlash and public protest against him

3. How does Seinfeld view the relationship between comedy and politics?

• Seinfeld believes that the only rule in comedy is "Is it funny?" and that "nobody cares really about anything else"
• He has adopted a "who, me?" approach, trying to present himself as fully apolitical, even as he regularly complains about "political correctness"
• Seinfeld has explicitly brought his "harumph, kids too woke" rhetoric into his comedy shows

[02] Seinfeld's Cultural Influence and Persona

1. How has Seinfeld's post-Seinfeld output been received?

• His recent work, such as the Netflix special "23 Hours to Kill" and the movie "Unfrosted," have had little cultural traction and staying power
• His most successful recent work, "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee," was a conversational web series that ran from 2012 to 2019

2. How has Seinfeld's public persona and influence changed over time?

• Seinfeld's cultural influence is still huge, but his current creative works have had less impact
• As a public figure, Seinfeld's personal opinions and off-stage comments have become more interesting to fans than his current creative output
• Seinfeld's insulation from fame and wealth may have contributed to his detachment from the current cultural and political climate

3. How does Seinfeld's situation compare to that of other public figures like J.K. Rowling?

• Like Rowling, Seinfeld's current politics are intruding on fans' enjoyment of his past and present work
• Both Seinfeld and Rowling have doubled down on their anti-woke opinions, which have metastasized into other revanchist takes
• Seinfeld, like Rowling and other tarnished public figures, seems unprepared to handle the online discourse and criticism he faces