“Jokes are not things that necessarily are built to last.”
Seth Rogen has spoken about the issue of comedians that have made jokes in the past that would be far less acceptable in today’s day and age, as he continues to promote his new memoir, Yearbook.
Having spoken to the Sunday Times earlier this month in an interview in which he spoke about an ill-received joke he made on Saturday Night Live addressing recent controversies surrounding James Franco, the comedian and actor appeared on Good Morning Britain on Wednesday morning and was asked by host Susanna Reid about how he looks back at controversial jokes from some of his previous films.
And he gave a very sincere answer.
Rogan said: “There are certain jokes that for sure have not aged well, but I think that’s the nature of comedy.
“I think conceptually those movies are sound, and I think there’s a reason they’ve lasted as far as people still watching and enjoying them today. Jokes are not things that necessarily are built to last.”
He went on to say that he doesn’t understand why comedians react so badly when they’re called out for problematic jokes they have told in the past, saying: “To me when I see comedians complaining about this kind of thing, I don’t understand what they’re complaining about.
“If you’ve made a joke that’s aged terribly, accept it. And if you don’t think it’s aged terribly, then say that.”
Seth Rogen says he doesn’t understand why some comedians complain about "cancel culture":
“Saying terrible things is bad. So if you said something terrible, then that’s something you should confront … I dont think that’s cancel culture.” pic.twitter.com/qZGETFkAFv
— The Recount (@therecount) May 25, 2021
He also made a very important note, saying that receiving criticism is “one of the things that goes along with being an artist, and if you don’t like that, then don’t be a comedian anymore.”
When he puts it like that, it makes perfect sense as well. Times change, view change, societies change. Instead of attacking “cancel culture” and “woke snowflakes” many comedians and other figures would probably be better served by simply admitting that a joke made years ago is no longer okay, and acknowledging that.
There’s nothing wrong with doing this, and there is no harm in admitting it.
Well said, Seth.
