Amy Schumer Drops The Mic On PC Police Over Comedy Complaints
Amy Schumer took on the subject of political correctness in comedy, particularly as it relates to her own “blind spots around race,” and her comments echoed those of master comedian Jerry Seinfeld.
Seinfeld has famously refused to play college campuses because he says that the college crowd today is “too PC” and that it’s essentially killing comedy.
While Seinfeld’s comments stirred controversy, and elicited an open letter from a college student on the Huffington Post, most of today’s most popular comedians have seemed to agree with him, as has much of public sentiment, if the comments to that letter are any indication.
Now, Amy Schumer is pitching in to the debate.
Prompted by a normally complimentary columnist for the Guardian, who made the “blind spots around race” comment and describes some of her jokes as “tactless,” Schumer responded as only she could in comments, reported by Variety.
“I am a comic. I am so glad more people are laughing at me and with me all of a sudden. I will joke about things you like and I will joke about things you aren’t comfortable with. And that’s ok. Stick with me and trust I am joking. I go in and out of playing an irreverent idiot. That includes making dumb jokes involving race.
I enjoy playing the girl who time to time says the dumbest thing possible and playing with race is a thing we are not supposed to do, which is what makes it so fun for comics. You can call it a ‘blind spot for racism’ or ‘lazy’ but you are wrong. It is a joke and it is funny. I know that because people laugh at it. Even if you personally did not.
I am not going to start joking about safe material. And don’t ask that of me. I love what I do and won’t let anyone take that away. I ask you to resist the urge to pick me apart.
Trust me. I am not racist. I am a devout feminist and lover of all people. My fight is for all people to be treated equally. So move on to the next person who is more deserving of your scrutiny and not the girl in your corner.
Sincerely Amy (a dirty half Jew)”
Amy Schumer has long been heralded as one of the comedians that truly “gets it,” and was even cited as a positive example in the Jerry Seinfeld open letter.
She’s also a woman, who tells jokes like this one.
“I used to date Latino guys. Now I prefer consensual.”
Do you think the message Seinfeld and Amy Schumer are sharing is one society needs to hear, or are comedians today not PC enough? Sound off in the comments section.
[Image of Amy Schumer via Rolling Stone]
