Jay Leno says he is criticized for refusing to bring political content into his comedy, even as he tries to avoid alienating audiences who support former President Donald Trump. In remarks reported by multiple outlets, Leno describes receiving backlash “rhetorically” for making jokes at political figures and viewpoints from more than one side.
Leno frames the criticism as a change from earlier eras of mainstream late-night comedy, saying he and Johnny Carson once took pride in distributing jokes across party lines. While he acknowledges being “beat up” in response to that approach today, he also indicates he does not want to undermine his relationship with Trump-leaning viewers. The accounts focus on his views about audience reaction and the evolving expectations for comedians around political topics.
