Veteran comedian and filmmaker Mel Brooks says political correctness is killing comedy and that some of his movies would never have been made in today’s climate.

Mr. Brooks, 91, told BBC Radio 4 on Thursday that his 1974 comedy western “Blazing Saddles,” which satirized racism in Hollywood, would never be made today because people have gotten too serious.

“We have become stupidly politically correct, which is the death of comedy,” he said. “It’s OK not to hurt feelings of various tribes and groups, however, it’s not good for comedy.

“Comedy has to walk a thin line, take risks,” he said. “Comedy is the lecherous little elf whispering into the king’s ear, always telling the truth about human behavior.”

Mr. Brooks, who is Jewish, said that while he can find the humor in almost anything, he would never consider parodying “gas chambers or the death of children or Jews at the hands of the Nazis.”

“Everything else is OK. Naked people? Fine. I like naked people, they’re usually the most polite,” he joked.

“I like naked people, they are usually the most polite.”



Mel Brooks telling it like it is #r4today pic.twitter.com/GCPjMy5NU5 — BBC Radio 4 Today (@BBCr4today) September 21, 2017

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