Comedian Sarah Silverman Slams ‘Cancel Culture’: ‘There’s a Kind of Righteousness Porn Going On’

Monica Sanchez | September 23, 2019
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Sarah Silverman at the 2019 Emmy’s on Sunday criticized “cancel culture” and discussed how comedians like herself struggle with what boundaries to push in their work for fear of being shut down or ostracized by Hollywood.   

Silverman in a red carpet pre-show interview with Kelly Osbourne said that there is “definitely pressure” to give in and water things down with how overly sensitive and easily offended everyone is nowadays.

She added there is “a kind of righteousness porn going on in this cancel culture,” where everyone gets off pointing the finger and condemning others rather than engaging in discourse and constructive criticism to be able to change hearts and minds, if that were even the goal.       

“There’s definitely pressure,” she said. “There’s a kind of righteousness porn going on in this cancel culture. There’s nuance to it. There’s good and there’s bad. As a stand-up, it’s really odd. To talk about what’s really going on or to talk about the world as we decide to see it — or to push to see where the line is and to go past it — is so oddly unacceptable it’s safer to…”

Silverman was cut short and censored, ironically enough, before the four words, “just make p**** jokes,” made it on air.

“It’s an odd time but I hope comedy pushes through,” she added.

Silverman said in another interview that "cancel culture" has cut off comedians "at the knees." 

"There isn't even a host anymore at these shows. They don't want comedians to talk," she said. 

Her former Hulu series “I Love You America” was nominated for an outstanding variety sketch series for the 71st Emmy Awards but lost to “Saturday Night Live.”

 

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