Goldie Hawn Says Cancel Culture Is Ruining Comedy

Goldie Hawn is reflecting on how Hollywood "used to be elegant." She has been in the industry since the late 60s, the Private Benjamin actress told Variety that her view isn't because she's "old-fashioned."

Referring to last year's Oscars, in which Will Smith slapped Chris Rock, Hawn, 77, doesn't think that jokes shouldn't come at someone else's expense. She would rather see people in awe and "believing again." The slap was something "indicative of our culture right now,” Hawn says. “I mean, you could look at it and say, ‘What the hell just happened?’ Somebody lost control. They lost their self-regulation. Their bigger brain wasn’t thinking. They did something that was horrendous and also showed no remorse."

She feels that the incident is a "microcosm" of our world. She added that Rock's control of his emotions was an example of what the world should look like. "But, unfortunately, it isn’t right now.”

Hawn says that the evolution of Hollywood isn't necessarily for the better. Hawn talks of the death of the movie star. “Where are they?” she asks. “The old-fashioned movie star creates excitement." She adds that up-and-coming actors make more money than "anybody ever made as an actor, but they’re not known." As for the lack of romantic comedies, which she is known for with past projects like Project Benjamin, Overboard, and The First Wives Club, Hawn asks, “It’s too pedestrian and not interesting? How sad."

Hawn is also concerned with "cancel culture." She tells the publication that even though it's "important to stand vigilant on people’s behavior" and handle when they’re "out of line," the results of being canceled have gone too far.

The D.C. native hopes to get back to "some level of sensibility and fairness." She says the phrase is double-edged because "who has the right to cancel?" Comedians have voiced their opinions on cancel culture affecting their material, and Hawn addresses this quandary. There are certain things you can't say, but the "level of sensitivity is unforgiving. That’s not a good feeling when you’re in a creative mode."

Becoming a famous actor, singer, model, or artist takes hard work, talent, and a lot of luck. But for some, star quality may run in the family. Sure, nepo babies are a thing, but when the latent backs up the connections these stars are born with, we have to give credit where it's due.

Some of our favorite actors have given birth to some equally talented actors. The folks who come to mind are Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan's son, Jack Quaid, who we know as the lead actor in The Boys television series. Jack, 32, has been on the satirical superhero show since 2019 and has since appeared in Oppenheimer and in the Scream remake.

Looking up family trees, there are a plethora of celebrities with equally -- if not more -- famous mothers. These women have not only found success in their own careers, but have passed along the superstar bug to their sons, daughters -- and even their grandchildren, too.

Some famous mother-child duos may sound familiar: Debbie Reynolds and her daughter Carrie Fisher, for example, made news when they both died within a day of each other in late 2016. Others, however, may come as more of a surprise as some celebrities are more secretive when it comes to their star-studded lineage. For instance, we had no idea that Meryl Streep's daughter won an award for her acting abilities in theater! Streep has four children, two of whom are actors, one a musician, and another a model.

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 08: Peggy Lipton and Oliver Hudson attend the Equipment and Vanity Fair Dinner hosted by Rashida Jones and Krista Smith at Chateau Marmont on December 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Vanity Fair)