Cancel culture is undoubtedly controversial.
It has the power to hold individuals accountable, but it also has the power to, in Steve Harvey ‘s opinion, decrease the quality of modern comedy due to the fear of being canceled.
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The 64-year-old recently opened up at the Television Critics Association press tour, promoting his ABC courtroom series Judge Steve Harvey , about how he believes political correctness has diluted entertainment.
Steve Harvey is getting real about some of the detrimental effects cancel culture and extreme political correctness has had on show business.
The 64-year-old’s theory is that the fear of being canceled is holding many comedians back from making risqué jokes.
While there are many justifiable times and places for canceling someone, Steve thinks that society has taken it too far.
And because of that, Steve says that he is in absolutely no rush to release his own comedy special, like so many of his peers have.
He explained that if one day he decides to release a stand-up special, it will be at the end of his career when the stakes aren’t quite as high.
“The only way I can do one more special is if it’s at the end of my television career because it will end my television career,” the Family Feud star said .
“We’re in the cancel culture now.”
Steve explained that comedians like Kevin Hart and Chris Rock, who are primarily supported by sponsorships, are censored.
“No stand-up that is sponsor-driven can say anything he wants to,” he went on .
“Chris Rock can’t. Kevin Hart can’t. Cedric the Entertainer can’t. D.L. Hughley can’t. I can go down the list,” he added.
While many comedians rely on sponsors, Steve pointed out that Dave Chappelle does not, which is why he has such a controversial reputation.
“The only person that can say what they want to say on stage is Dave Chappelle because he’s not sponsor-driven. He’s subscription-driven.”
Steve says that if he attempted to sustain a stand-up career in today’s political climate, he wouldn’t last long.
“If I had tried to continue as a stand-up, there’s no way I could maintain it,” he admitted, pointing out that every joke told now has the potential to offend someone.
“Political correctness has killed comedy. Every joke you tell now, it hurts somebody’s feelings,” he said .
The “Love Don’t Cost A Thing” star explained that all jokes are inspired by something or someone.
“But what people don’t understand about comedians is that a joke has to be about something. It has to be about somebody,” he said .
“We can’t write jokes about puppies all the time. The joke can’t be about bushes all the time,” he continued.
“Some of these jokes will have to be about people, because that’s the most interesting topic,” he shared . “So if I come back, I’ll have to wait until I’m done.”
“And I’m not done. I want to do one more. I’ll probably have to call it ‘This Is It,'” he added.
Let us know what you think of Steve Harvey’s thoughts on cancel culture in the comments below!
h/t Variety
