Sarah Silverman Reveals She Was Dropped from Upcoming Movie Over Blackface Sketch

Sarah Silverman is speaking out about the consequences of “canceled culture.” In a new interview on The Bill Simmons Podcast, the comedian revealed that she was recently fired from a movie after producers saw a photo of her in blackface from a 2007 episode of The Sarah Silverman Program. Silverman explained that she “didn’t fight it,” as she by no means defends the sketch, but at the same time, the entire experience was “so disheartening.” Added Silverman, “It just made me real, real sad, because I really kind of devoted my life to making it right.”

During their discussion about some of her more controversial sketches — at least by 2019 standards — Silverman revealed that she was dropped from an upcoming movie over a 2007 Sarah Silverman Program sketch in which she and a black writer “swapped” bodies. “He’s Jewish, and I’m black for the day. And we’re both the most racist version of that,” she told Bill Simmons of the sketch. “I recently was going to do a movie, a really sweet part in a cool little movie. Then at 11 p.m. the night before they fired me because they saw a picture of me in blackface from that episode,” said Silverman.

“I didn’t fight it,” she continued, adding that she’s “not that person anymore.” Silverman explained that she “understands” the decision, but the situation has still been difficult. “They hired someone else who is wonderful but who has never stuck their neck out,” she told Simmons. “It was so disheartening. It just made me real, real sad, because I really kind of devoted my life to making it right.”

Silverman went on to say that the climate of “righteousness porn” is “really scary” and “a very odd thing that’s invaded the left primarily and the right will mimic it.” The comedian and actress slammed those who are eager to “throw the first stone” at those who “say the wrong thing” or “had a tweet once.” Continued Silverman, “It’s so odd. It’s a perversion … It’s really, ‘Look how righteous I am and now I’m going to press refresh all day long to see how many likes I get in my righteousness.'”

Listen to Sarah Silverman’s entire interview on The Bill Simmons Podcast here.