Rob Schneider: People are sick of the ‘woke empire’
- Two-thirds of Americans fear speaking freely, study shows
- Schneider criticized government and social media censorship
- He praised SNL for course correction, critiqued late-night shows
(NewsNation) — Actor and comedian Rob Schneider believes the “woke movement” in America is on its last legs and will collapse within the next 12 to 18 months.
During a Wednesday interview on NewsNation’s “On Balance,” Schneider, known for his roles in “Grown Ups” and “Saturday Night Live,” said people are “sick of it” and suggested that the cultural tide is turning against what he calls “nothing but Marxism redressed as manners.”
Schneider was on the show to promote his new book, “You Can Do It! Speak Your Mind, America.”
Free speech concerns
Schneider cited a Cato Institute study indicating that roughly two-thirds of Americans feel they cannot speak their minds freely for fear of offending.
He said open dialogue is important, stating, “We need to have the best ideas come to the surface, and the way you do that is by dialogue.”
The comedian criticized the Obama administration for legislation he claims allowed government agencies to “directly propagandize Americans.” He also mentioned Mark Zuckerberg’s recent apology for violating Americans’ First Amendment rights during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Schneider expressed concern about politicians like Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who he says have referred to free speech as a “privilege” rather than a right. He warned viewers, “The people trying to censor other people are never the good guys, and that’s the Democrats right now.”
Comedy and SNL culture
Reflecting on his time at “Saturday Night Live,” Schneider acknowledged the show’s left-leaning tendencies but praised its ability to correct course. He commended the current cast and noted that the show has recently begun making fun of President Joe Biden.
But Schneider criticized some late-night comedy shows for their approach during the pandemic, singling out Stephen Colbert’s “dancing syringes” bit as “something out of the Soviet bloc.”