Jerry Seinfeld Takes Autism Comments Back: ‘I’m Not On The Spectrum!’
Jerry Seinfeld made headlines when he declared he thought he was autistic or at least on the spectrum. Now he’s taking back those comments after a firestorm of people called the comedian out on the self-diagnosis.
Seinfeld sat down with Access Hollywood and told host Billy Bush that his comments were premature and that he doesn’t have autism. Instead, he explained his comments came from a connection he felt after viewing a play related to autism.
“I don’t have autism, I’m not on the spectrum. I just was watching this play about it and thought, ‘Why am I related to it on some level?’ That is all I was saying.”
Seinfeld explained that this is a link he found that all comedians share.
“All the comedians that we’ve had on Comedians in Cars, usually at some point in the show… I ask them, ‘Do you have trouble talking to just regular people?’ And they always say yes. They always say yes.”
Seinfeld’s original comments come from an interview with Brian Williams on NBC’s Nightly News. The Seinfeld star, who is currently promoting his series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, told Williams about his difficulties with socializing with people.
“I just was watching this play about it and though, ‘Why am I related to it on some level?’ That is all I was saying. Basic social engagement is really a struggle. I’m very literal, when people talk to me and they use expressions, sometimes I don’t know what they’re saying.”
He continued, “But I don’t see it as dysfunctional. I just think of it as an alternate mindset.”
Here’s what some people think about Seinfeld’s comments on autism.
@sjtotterdell Definitely isn’t as he’s misrepresenting what autism is + ridic self-diagnosis. Autism is serious, not some desirable quirk.
— Jen Izaakson (@Izaakson) November 17, 2014
#Autism is not a club people can choose to join, not even Jerry #Seinfeld http://t.co/6cnNAnxgeI — Harold L Doherty (@AutismRealityNB) November 15, 2014
And thanks to @JerrySeinfeld had some vigorous discussions about #autism. Maybe, as some psychs have suggested, it’s time to re-examine DSM
— Vitaminx (@MarieMyungOkLee) November 13, 2014
Ginger Taylor, An “Autism Mom” and real #autism advocate says: Screw You, Jerry (Seinfeld http://t.co/FpaMyXSCf0 — Harold L Doherty (@AutismRealityNB) November 11, 2014
Yeah, cause successful Autistic adults don’t exist RT @Salon: Jerry Seinfeld’s not helping:Why celebrity autism claims distract from reality
— citizen dickbag (@kaytaa) November 10, 2014
@Salon if JF is autistic then 90% of population must be. Ridiculous self absorbed celebrity. Jerry do something useful with yr fame. — ollio (@ollio) November 10, 2014
[Image via Miro Vrlik Photography / Shutterstock.com]
