For Jerry Seinfeld, Sean Connery and Muhammad Ali were among the men who exemplified the “dominant masculinity” of the early 1960s. For his critics on social media, the “Seinfeld” comedian is not like that.
“Oh yeah, when I think of dominant masculinity, I think of Jerry Seinfeld,” one X (formerly Twitter) user tweeted sarcastically. “LMAO. It is so transparent that the most insecure people always project these things.”
The “Unfrosted” star and director, 70, is facing a new round of backlash on social media after he shared his views on masculinity, culture and social “hierarchy” in an interview with Free Press editor Bari Weiss. On Tuesday's episode of Weiss' “Honestly” podcast, Seinfeld said his nostalgia for the '60s, for “a common culture” and more influenced his Netflix movie Pop-Tart.
“There is another element that I think is the key element, and that is an agreed-upon hierarchy, which I think is absolutely vaporized at the current moment,” he said.
He added that his desire to “be a real man” while growing up added to the longing he feels for that time. In addition to Ali and Connery, President John F. Kennedy was a “real man” that Seinfeld said he wanted to emulate.
“I want to be like that one day… I never really grew up,” he said. “As a comedian, you don't want to do it because it's a childish pursuit, but I miss a dominant masculinity. Yes, I understand the [toxic masculinity]But still, I like a real man.”
Seinfeld, who has been vocal about how he feels “the far left and PC crap” are hurting comedy, was quickly greeted online with backlash and photos of his memorable puffy “Seinfeld” T-shirt. “Yes, the 'dominant masculinity' that Jerry Seinfeld is well known for…” author Sarah Kendzior captioned a GIF of Seinfeld in the ruffled garment.
“This is my kind of dominant masculinity,” joked another
One user shared photos of Seinfeld's other over-the-top looks on “Seinfeld,” while writer Rohita Kadambi joked that Julia Louis-Dreyfus' Elaine Benes smoking a cigar on the show is actually the definition of “Seinfeld dominant masculinity.”
Several X users also took shots at Seinfeld who makes a living from comedies and film projects, including “Bee Movie” and “Unfrosted.”
“The guy who gave us the bee movie wants more dominant masculinity 💀,” said one critic.
Seinfeld's “dominant masculinity” comments also offered some users a chance to revisit the comedian's controversial dating history. In the '90s, Seinfeld dated Shoshanna Lonstein. He was 38 and she was 17 and a senior in high school when they met.
“Saying he misses dominant masculinity is the first thing he said that made me laugh,” writer Rachel Wolf tweeted.
“A man who dated a 17-year-old girl in high school when he was almost 40 can never talk about 'dominant masculinity,'” another X user said.
But some people online supported Seinfeld and his views. One X user said he accepted Seinfeld's call for real men, which he said is “for the love of natural women who need them all.” In the YouTube comments section of the podcast video, several viewers expressed their enjoyment of Seinfeld's “vision and perspective” and praised Weiss.
Several viewers also praised Seinfeld for crying when remembering a recent trip to Israel, which he said was “the most powerful experience of my life.” Earlier this month, during two public appearances, Seinfeld, a staunch supporter of Israel amid its ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza, was interrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters.
During their “Honestly” conversation, Seinfeld also talked about how he overcame negative reviews about “Unfrosted,” his love for New York City and why he doesn't care about those protesters.
“It's so stupid. “They want to express this sincere, intense rage, but, again, a little off-target,” she said. “That is, to me, comical.”
