The women of “The View” took on the topic of political correctness during Thursday’s episode, with Whoopi Goldberg, Nicolle Wallace and crew reflecting on the balance between freedom of expression and the sensitivity of others.
The debate ensued during the Hot Topics segment, as the panel discussed comedian Jerry Seinfeld‘s recent bashing of political correctness.
Goldberg chimed in from a comedian’s perspective, noting, “Comics are always offensive, that’s our job. We offend everybody.”
Nonetheless, she said, some people in the audience might take offense at being the butt of those jokes.
“I think we’ve got to find other ways to be funny if that’s what it is. If you feel that it’s too hard to be funny without perhaps offending somebody, then maybe you should find some different stuff,” Goldberg offered.
And if a comedian does decide to throw caution to the wind, Goldberg noted, be prepared for blowback.
“There are consequences, and if you’re going to do it, have the balls to accept what happens when people don’t like it. It’s just the way it is,” Goldberg asserted.
Nicolle Wallace lamented the chill effect of PC culture, noting the crucial pressure valve that humor provides, especially in tumultuous times.
“When comedians feel hemmed in, I think that’s a bad thing,” Wallace said. “We’ve become hostages of political correctness.”
Noting the recent ISIS skit on “Saturday Night Live,” Wallace continued, “If we’re not laughing, we’re crying and we’re under our desks … if the comedians become politically correct, I don’t know where we’ll go for a release.”
Goldberg and co. also discussed a recent photo that some interpreted as a depiction of President Obama holding a pack of cigarettes. The White House has subsequently denied that interpretation.
Rosie Perez weighed in on the topic, opining that the president’s habits or lack thereof are a matter of national importance.
“The president’s health is our business, because he is the leader of the free world, and he has to be healthy in order to keep his job going,” Perez put forth.
Perez’s cohorts took a different view of the issue.
“[In] JFK’s day it was women; if all he’s doing is having an occasional cigarette let him enjoy it,” Wallace put forth. “I like him more knowing that he’s struggling with giving up cigarettes; he’s human.”
Goldberg declared that it was a non-issue for another reason entirely.
“If you thought he had a cigarette, he probably didn’t, because [First Lady] Michelle [Obama], first of all, would beat his ass,” Goldberg said.
Thursday’s episode, which included guest panelist Stacy London, also welcomed guests Nick Jonas and Lewis Black.