Today in Famous Men With Bad Opinions Who Can’t Resist Opening Their Mouths: Jerry Seinfeld weighs in on Roseanne.
While talking with Entertainment Tonight on Monday about the new season of his show, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, the 64-year-old comedian shared some candid thoughts when asked about the fallout Roseanne Barr received after posting a racist tweet.
I think it’s safe to say that Jerry Seinfeld’s PR team are not thrilled by the remarks he decided to share, and honestly same.
“I didn’t see why it was necessary to fire her,” Seinfeld said. “Why would you murder someone who’s committing suicide?”
…what?
Yea. That’s seriously an opinion that Jerry Seinfeld decided it was necessary to vocalise.
First, his statement reveals a complete lack of understanding of the gravity of racism. Second, there’s the confusing ‘why-not-just-let-her-self-destruct’ sentiment that, honestly, doesn’t make too much sense because she did self-destruct and getting axed from her show was the consequence.
Basically Jerry Seinfeld has revealed a concerningly ignorant take on the Roseanne Barr situation, and for some inexplicable reason, he decided to elaborate.
“But I never saw someone ruin their entire career with one button push,” he added. “That was fresh.”
Again, the deep-seeded racism that characterises tweets like this as well as the evidence that Roseanne Barr has harboured these attitudes throughout her career seems to have unfortunately gone over Jerry Seinfeld’s head.
The only comment that he made on the whole Roseanne debacle that has any validity, was that they could have replaced Roseanne with another female comedian instead of cancelling the show and having the spin-off without the character.
“You need to get the comic in there. I hate to see a comic lose a job.” He said. “There’s other funny women that could do that part.”
So we’ve got a little bit of a good opinion mixed in there with a very bad opinion and overall a whole lot of disappointment in Jerry Seinfeld. But what do you expect really from a straight, white, male comedian from a 90’s sitcom with ailing relevance?