“Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” star and self-identified libertarian Gary Oldman went on a tirade about the “hypocrisy” of an increasingly politically correct culture in an interview with “Playboy” for the upcoming July/August issue.
“I just think political correctness is crap,” he said. “That’s what I think about it. I think it’s like, take a fucking joke. Get over it.”
Oldman defended Mel Gibson and Alec Baldwin, who have been severely criticized for using politically incorrect slurs.
“[Mel] got drunk and said a few things, but we’ve all said those things. We’re all fucking hypocrites. That’s what I think about it. The policeman who arrested him has never used the word nigger or that fucking Jew? I’m being brutally honest here. It’s the hypocrisy of it that drives me crazy. …
Alec calling someone an F-A-G in the street while he’s pissed off coming out of his building because they won’t leave him alone. I don’t blame him. …
He’s like an outcast, a leper, you know? But some Jewish guy in his office somewhere hasn’t turned and said, “That fucking kraut” or “Fuck those Germans,” whatever it is? We all hide and try to be so politically correct. That’s what gets me. It’s just the sheer hypocrisy of everyone, that we all stand on this thing going, ‘Isn’t that shocking?'”
“It’s dishonesty that frustrates me most,” he said. “I can’t bear double standards. It gets under my skin more than anything.”
Asked who is honest in this culture, Oldman gave Charles Krauthammer a shoutout. “A voice I particularly like is Charles Krauthammer,” he said. “I think he’s incredibly smart. I think he’s fair, very savvy and politically insightful, so I enjoy watching him.”
He also pointed out people can “hide behind comedy and satire” in order to say politically incorrect things. “Well, if I called Nancy Pelosi a c**t — and I’ll go one better, a fucking useless c**t — I can’t really say that,” Oldman explained. “But Bill Maher and Jon Stewart can, and nobody’s going to stop them from working because of it.”
Probably aware his comments would offend a lot of people, Oldman insisted he’s not a bigot. “[B]ut I’m defending all the wrong people. I’m saying Mel’s all right, Alec’s a good guy. So how do I come across? Angry?”
“Passionate, certainly,” the reporter responded. “Readers will have to form their own opinions.”