It's 2019 Anddddddddd You Aren't Allowed To Laugh At Seinfeld Anymore. Sorry.
Happy new year! This is the year everything changes. This is the year we all come back to planet earth. The year everyone chills out. The year everyone stops being so mad online. The year everyone stops trying so hard to be offended by everything andddddddddddddd…..
Bustle - One of the unfortunate consequence of being a fan of a show that’s now almost 30 years old is that it may not feel relevant or relatable when you watch it later. With Seinfeld, that change in enjoyability may be even greater due to the ’90s comedy’s frequent pushing of boundaries. The titular star of the show, Jerry Seinfeld, has frequently spoken publicly about believing that society has become overly politically correct, so you can probably imagine how some of Seinfeld’s non-PC humor could feel outdated today. These 13 jokes from Seinfeld are super offensive now, and it will make you realize how much times have changed — well, hopefully, at least.
…….anddddddddd it only got worse. GOD DAMMIT! What a way to kick off the year! Seinfeld is too offensive. Feel bad about watching Seinfeld! And why? Well let’s take a look:
What might be the most well-known joke from Seinfeld is also one of its most disappointing ones. Maybe in 1995, when the episode (titled “The Soup Nazi”) aired, it felt okay for viewers, but in 2018 when groups of Neo-Nazis have become noticeably emboldened, using the term “Nazi” to label someone as a joke doesn’t sit so well anymore.
Dead ass honest- this isn’t even CLOSE to the most “offensive” joke in the episode, never mind on the list.
Joking about a Native American person being an “Indian Giver,” was never okay — and it’s definitely not okay now. Joking that a racial stereotype about an oppressed group is actually truthful is a dangerous road, and Seinfeld probably couldn’t get away with doing that in 2018.
Yeah…told you it’s bad.
This episode actually caused a controversy in 1998 when it aired, as The New York Times reported that the president of the National Puerto Rican Coalition, Manuel Mirabal called it an “unconscionable insult.” Mirabal said, “It is unacceptable that the Puerto Rican flag be used by Seinfeld as a stage prop under any circumstances,” the New York Times reported.
Ok, this one we can agree with, maybe don’t light a flag on fire, that’s fair. But in context, you can see Kramer is mortified that he lit the flag on fire and is putting it out. So even the “offensive” joke is perfectly Seinfeld.
Funny is funny and that’s just funny. No two ways about it. That’s funny.
And so the list goes on and on with petty examples of jokes that someone, somewhere can find offensive. It’s a fucking mess. Ok here’s one more just to trigger you because it triggered me:
OH COME ON! We can’t joke about people with…big noses anymore? Get outta here. Just get out of town right now. That’s insane. What a harmless joke. I told you it was triggering!
So happy new year, everyone. Let’s use this list as a reminder NOT to get offended by god damn everything this year. Coming up next…the Louis CK jokes from over the weekend. Buckle up.