Jerry Seinfeld has divided opinions after making some “controversial” comments about hierarchy and masculinity.
During a recent appearance on The Free Press’ Honestly with Bari Weiss podcast, the comedian opened up about directing his latest movie, Unfrosted, which is set in the 1960s.
The movie tells the story of Kellogg’s and Post, sworn cereal rivals, who are in battle to create a pastry that will change the face of breakfast forever.
Speaking of the nostalgia of the ’60s in relation to the film, Seinfeld said that there’s no “sense of hierarchy” in today’s society.
“… There’s another element there that I think is the key element, and that is an agreed upon hierarchy, which I think is absolutely vaporized in today’s moment,” the comedian said. “I think that is why people lean on the horn and drive in the crazy way that they drive, because we have no sense of hierarchy. And as humans, we don’t really feel comfortable like that.”
“If you want to talk about nostalgia, that is part of what makes that moment attractive looking back,” Seinfeld added.
He then delved into notable figures during his childhood, which was also in the ’60s, stating that there were more “real men” around such as President John F. Kennedy, boxer Muhammad Ali, actor Sean Connery.
“You can go all the way down the line – that’s a real man – I want to be like that someday. Well, no. I never really grew up,” Seinfeld said. “I mean, you don’t want to, as a comedian, because it’s a childish pursuit, but I miss a dominant masculinity.
“Yeah, I get the [toxic masculinity] but still, I like a real man,” he also added.
His statements received a mixed reaction, with this user supporting the comic’s stance: “Jerry nails it. We need more Masculinity and less of the weak girly men! Weak men create hard times.”
However, others slammed him, with this person adding: “Why is it all the boomers that would in no way fit into the “manly man” category in any era are the most nostalgic about it? They were the dudes crying in high school that I stole their girl.”
Elsewhere, the 70-year-old also spoke about his interest in reading bad reviews of his work as he finds the concept entertaining.
“There’s nothing funnier to me than people complaining ‘I didn’t laugh,’ because they want to laugh,” he said on the podcast episode. “And I relate to it, I get it. I think it’s funny that you hated it because you wanted to laugh and you didn’t laugh.”
“It doesn’t matter what you think of me,” he stated. “Why would I think that I’m going to make something that everyone will like? What sense does that make? You gotta be insane to think that.”
Unfrosted is now available to watch on Netflix.