Jerry Seinfeld says he misses the era of 'dominant masculinity' in American pop culture and society: 'I like real men'

Jerry Seinfeld says he misses 'dominant masculinity' in American pop culture.

Despite admitting that he ironically does not channel that himself in his own career, the 70-year-old comedian stressed the importance of what it means to be a 'real man.'

On an episode of the Honestly with Bari Weiss podcast released on Tuesday, he spoke about his new Netflix comedy Unfrosted, which is based in the '60s.

The Seinfeld star — who apologized for the 'sexual undertones' in his family movie during his Duke University commencement speech — said what made that decade special was traditional masculinity.

'In that era, it was [John F. Kennedy], it was Muhammad Ali, it was Sean Connery, Howard Cosell,' he said sharing examples of the masculine icons he idolized as a child. 'That's a real man.'

Jerry Seinfeld says he misses 'dominant masculinity' in American pop culture. Despite admitting that he ironically does not channel that himself in his own career, the 70-year-old comedian stressed the importance of what it means to be a 'real man'; seen in April

He admitted that his own career led him down a path, which does not portray the image of traditional masculinity. 

'I want to be like that someday,' he joked. 'No, look at how I dress — like an eight-year-old. 

'I always wanted to be a real man, but I never made it,' he joked.

'I never really grew up,' he continued. 'You don't want to as a comedian. It's a childish pursuit, but I miss dominant masculinity.'

The comic acknowledged toxic masculinity but said he 'still' called for a reemergence of the unspoken hierarchy in society.

'Yeah, I get the toxic thing. Thank you, thank you. But still, I like a real man.'

While making an appearance on the podcast to talk about his new movie Unfrosted, he also named his co-star Hugh Grant, 63, as an example of the masculinity he admires.

'That's why I love Hugh Grant,' Seinfeld said. 'He felt like one of those guys I wanted to be.'

On an episode of the Honestly with Bari Weiss podcast released on Tuesday, he spoke about his new Netflix comedy Unfrosted, which is based in the '60s. The Seinfeld star said what made that decade special was traditional masculinity; seen in October 2023

He admitted that his own career led him down a path, which does not portray the image of traditional masculinity. The comic acknowledged toxic masculinity but said he 'still' called for a reemergence of the unspoken hierarchy in society; seen in January 2023

While making an appearance on the podcast to talk about his new movie Unfrosted, he also named his co-star Hugh Grant as an example of the masculinity he admires. 'That's why I love Hugh Grant,' Seinfeld said. 'He felt like one of those guys I wanted to be'; seen in November 2023

This comes after he made an apology about the 'uncomfortable sexual aspect' in the 2007 animated flick Bee Movie, in which he voiced Barry the Bee. He said the film was 'not calibrated perfectly' but added he 'would not change it' in a light-hearted remark during his commencement speech at Duke University in North Carolina earlier this month; seen in October 2023

'He knows how to dress. He knows how to talk. He's charming. He has stories. He's comfortable at dinner parties, knows how to get a drink. That stuff,' he explained.

This comes after he made an apology about the 'uncomfortable sexual aspect' in the 2007 animated flick Bee Movie, in which he voiced Barry the Bee.

He said the film was 'not calibrated perfectly' but added he 'would not change it' in a light-hearted remark during his commencement speech at Duke University in North Carolina earlier this month.

'I may not have calibrated that perfectly. But I would not change it, and this is probably the biggest part I would like to make to you today regarding humor,' he said. 

His speech came shortly after fans expressed fears about his health after spotting him trembling in an interview filmed at the end of March.