Comedian Rob Schneider: ‘Free Speech is All Speech’
“I’m doing it right,” Schneider told The Hollywood Reporter about audience members “yelling” at him and even walking out of a recent fundraiser in CanadaComedian Rob Schneider is up to the challenge — especially when it comes to free speech.
”The thing about free speech is, free speech is all speech. Free speech isn’t for the nice stuff. It isn’t for the socially acceptable stuff. Free speech is the speech that challenges you. Free speech is the not-nice stuff,” he said. “Easy speech or speech that’s acceptable to everybody doesn’t need any protection. I’m there to challenge the audience.”
Schneider also talked specifically about Canada, saying Canada was “under a repressive regime where they call protesters terrorists.”
“I’m very proud that I didn’t bow to that dictatorship that [Prime Minister Justin] Trudeau is doing, and I’m happy to be one of those people that pissed them off,” he said. “And I’ll do it again if I get the chance, but I don’t think they’ll let me in anytime soon.”
Schneider had to cut a set short in June when audience members started to walk out during a fundraiser for the Hospitals of Regina Foundation in Canada.
“We do not condone, accept, endorse or share Mr. Schneider’s positions, as expressed during his comedy set and acknowledge that in this instance the performance did not meet the expectations of our audience and our team,” the foundation said in a statement to Canada’s Global News. “An unconditional apology was offered right after to our guests and our community. We reiterate this sincere and unconditional apology today, for any offense caused by Mr. Schneider’s recent comedy set, at the Four Seasons Ball.”
Schneider’s new book about free speech — “You Can Do It! Speak Your Mind, America” — will be released Sept. 24
He said he likes it when he is challenged himself.
“People get upset about things now. And that’s OK,” Schneider said. “I think the more challenging the comedy is and society is, the more interesting the stand-up and art is going to be. When everything’s smooth, art is boring.“
