Actress and comedian Sarah Silverman recently revealed that she was recently fired from a movie role because she had appeared in blackface in a 2007 controversial TV sketch. Silverman shared this information when she appeared on ‘The Bill Simmons Podcast,’ to discuss her career.
The outspoken Silverman while discussing the topic of ‘canceled’ culture and the ups and downs in celebrity reputation and popularity, shared this experience of hers. She told the podcast listeners how she did not even argue for being fired. The old sketch in the discussion was from her performance on ‘The Sarah Silverman Program.’ The episode was written to examine racism from her character’s standpoint. She said that she knew there was racism and she wanted to illuminate that in some way in comedy.
However, she did not know that cops were killing black people and unarmed black teenagers on the regular, and that changed her forever, she explained. The actress stated that recently, she was going to do a movie, a sweet part, then at 11 p.m. the night before they fired her because they saw a picture of her in blackface from that episode. Silverman did not even fight for it.
— David Amoyal (@DavidAmoyal)
Really appreciated @SarahKSilverman perspective on outrage culture which she describes as “self righteousness porn” this episode of @BillSimmons was excellent https://t.co/EoiN8OEji7
— David Amoyal (@DavidAmoyal) August 9, 2019
The event naturally left her sad and disappointed at the present-day culture of punishing and judging personalities in the present, based on their past selves and actions. Sarah revealed that they hired someone else, who they felt was lovely and who have never stuck their neck out. It was disheartening for Sarah. It made her feel sad because she devoted her life to make it right.
Sarah Silverman is not happy with the new standards of judging public figures. It is like if one is not on board if one says the wrong thing or if one had a tweet once. Everyone is, like, throwing the first stone. It is so odd and is a perversion. It is really, ‘Look how righteous I am, and now I am going to press refresh all day long to see how many likes I get in my righteousness.’ Silverman elaborated further that she thinks it is terrifying, and it is a very odd thing that it has invaded the left primarily and the right will mimic it.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons)
New BS Podcast: 12 years in the making… it’s @SarahKSilverman on the state of comedy in 2019, cancel culture, SNL, death threats, the standup itch, favorite TV shows, the legalization of pot and much more.https://t.co/lUsyDqfgdn
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) August 9, 2019
Silverman, who has been working in the entertainment industry since 1990, mentioned her old material in the podcast discussion, and stated how she would not be making the same kind of jokes today. She said that it is OK to go and that she was fed up looking at it in the light of today of what everyone knows, but to hold that person accountable if they have changed with the times, like for her. She held herself responsible and cannot erase that she did that, but can only be changed forever and do what she can to make it right for the rest of her life.
It is not the first time that she has addressed this issue. In a 2018 interview, Silverman said that comedy by nature is not at all evergreen. So if one is doing it right, he looks back at his old stuff, and he is horrified. Sarah further added that she did not stand by the blackface sketch. She is still horrified by it, and cannot erase it. She can only change by it and move on.