Screenwriter and playwright David Mamet has weighed in on the ongoing cultural debate over so-called “Don’t Say Gay” laws. In a strange move, the 74-year-old says he supports the laws and accused male teachers of being “predators” and “pedophiles.”
Seriously?!?
The pulitzer Prize winner and author behind such plays as Glengarry Glen Ross, Oleanna, and Speed the Plow among others, offered his views on the “Don’t Say Gay” issue April 10 in an interview with Fox News.
Related: Of course Joe Rogan is defending the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill
Host Mark Levin brought up a previous assertion made by the playwright that kindergartners are “trained in a bizarre catechism of sexual identity politics.” Conversation then turned to the newly enacted “Don’t Say Gay” law in Florida, which prompted the writer to launch into a rant defending the law.
“What we have is kids not only being indoctrinated but groomed, in a very real sense, by people who are, whether they know it or not, sexual predators,” Mamet claimed. “Are they abusing the kids physically? No, I don’t think so. But they are abusing them mentally and using sex to do so.”
He added, “This has always been the problem with education. Teachers are inclined, particularly men because men are predators, to pedophilia.”
David Mamet on Fox News: "Teachers are inclined, particularly men because men are predators, to pedophilia" pic.twitter.com/azAlXPWRUc
— Madeline Peltz (@peltzmadeline) April 11, 2022
Mamet then went on to allege this degeneration stems from schools teaching sex education–something that, in his view, should be taught by parents in the home. At no point did he offer any statistics or other facts to back up his assertion.
This isn’t the first time he’s made incendiary political comments, either. Mamet argued against gun control in a 2013 essay published in Newsweek and referred to Donald Trump as a “great President” in 2020. In his latest book, Recessional, he appears to have endorsed conspiracy theories that claim the 2020 election was illegitimate. He has since disputed that interpretation, claiming he “misspoke.”
Maybe it goes without saying, but Mamet’s remarks have attracted wide derision on Twitter…
It’s David Mamet the asshole
— Ellen Barkin (@EllenBarkin) April 11, 2022
Genuinely the best nickname for David Mamet possible https://t.co/df5REbSmBy
— Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) April 11, 2022
David Mamet on Fox News: "Teachers are inclined, particularly men because men are predators, to pedophilia"
As a male teacher I'm offended & angry.
I care about my students & support them academically, emotionally, & through the many) challenges of life.
I AM NOT A PEDAOPHILE! pic.twitter.com/Qz8RSInWLs
— Matt Walton, M.Ed (@Matt4VA) April 11, 2022
David Mamet to his mother, 1965: I'm not going to be a teacher like you. Teachers are all pedophiles. I'm going to work with the normal people in Hollywood https://t.co/xLH7wO4xQt
— fun time with friends (sexual) (@funtimewfranz) April 11, 2022
I grew up in a theater family.
I have known for my entire life that David Mamet is a thick-headed piece of shit.
— Adam Davidson (@adamdavidson) April 11, 2022
At a time of increasing threats to gay people, David Mamet has chosen to ally himself with the purveyors of a vicious, ugly slander that will endanger teachers and LGBT Americans. It's inexcusable. https://t.co/nevD0X38uL
— Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) April 11, 2022
Someone should stick to his day job.? https://t.co/O0ZVJ2xB0l
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) April 12, 2022
One reason for David Mamet's lurch to the right in the last few years was it's very easy to be the smartest guy in the room if you surround yourself with the dumbest possible people https://t.co/u8XAUPzoeB
— Jesse Hawken (@jessehawken) April 11, 2022
By attending “American Buffalo” you support David Mamet: a dangerous, transphobic human who believes teachers are “inclined to pedophilia” and that I, as an open Trans educator am a “groomer”.
Remember that as you sit in the dark waiting for the curtain to rise. @DavidMamet
— Alexandra Billings (@IamABillings) April 12, 2022
Were David Mamet's plays ever good or were critics just blinded by language? That's the question I've wondered after seeing the last great many productions of his "classics," as well as all of his new time wasters.
— David Gordon (@MrDavidGordon) April 11, 2022
“No evidence to back up his charges” is what it takes to get David Mamet booked on Mark Levin’s show. https://t.co/ED2w5adizU
— John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) April 12, 2022
tjack47
I’m not a believer of toxic masculinity. Masculinity isn’t toxic. I believe some men are ignorant, abusive assholes.
Walker
Are you being disingenuous or do you have no grasp of how the English language works? “Toxic masculinity” does not mean “masculinity is toxic.” The adjective “toxic” is a modifier of the noun “masculinity.”
By your under of language, we shouldn’t use the phrase “red sportscar” because it suggests all sportscars are red.
toddlicious
Time for a cancelation
James
WHAT AN IDIOT.
AS IF CHILDREN ARE NOT CONSTANTLY BOMBARDED BY REINFORCED HETEROSEXUALITY.
IF I SEE ANY OF HIS BOOK, I WILL THROW THEM IN THE GARBAGE.
Mr. Stadnick
He has always been as ass now more people know it.
GayEGO
We have pedophiles in all genders. I was molested by two different women twice during my young days, and I am a gay guy!
jt1990
I’m sorry you were molested. I would advise the young and/or vulnerable gay men to be wary of this kind of thing. Most women hate a man that cannot be obtained or controlled with their seduction. You were probably molested out of spite. I hope they were attractive at least.
GrizzleyMichael
Takes a Pedophile to know one
Fahd
His opinion/prejudice is ill informed, but he doesn’t care. He always has been beyond reform.
As George Takei says, he should stick to his day job,
wiggie
let me get this correct, this MALE teacher (he teaches playwriting) just claimed male teachers are predators?????
Jaquelope
So he is, in effect, telling on himself. What he’s been saying is obvious projection as many have been doing lately, especially the members/leaders of a certain political party which I will not name except to say its name begins with ‘R’.
PubicHairus
He wrote Oleanna, so it checks out. Jaquelope is correct that these conservative types always tell on themselves.
Kangol2
Glad you mentioned Oleanna, @PH. That play telegraphed what a creep this man is years ago.
jt1990
That is correct. But it sounds like Gramps just had a senior moment and forgot which side he was on. Apparently he was once a liberal before coming over to the ‘Right’ side. Normally when I hear the phrase “all men are predators” it’s spoken by some crazed feminist or left wing nutcase!
ZzBomb
Yeah maybe it’s time for someone to probe Mamet’s laptop for kiddie porn. These people are the definition of projection.
Essie
Is it any wonder that teachers are leaving the profession in droves. First the politicians take any and all power away from them, threaten them with jail if they don’t follow the new laws and now this person is given a forum to sprew his disturbing views that ALL teachers are predators. It’s scary and dangerous.
johncp56
predators, to pedophilia”!!!! he needs to speak for himself, leave us other men out of his soured look at life, scummy sticky creep!!!!!!!!
Polaro
I often read the incendiary titles of these articles and I roll my eyes. I read the stories or watch the clips and usually find what was said was very different, or the nuance or sarcasm was missed. This is one instance were it was 100% accurate. Why would this man believe or say these things? If he really believes what he said that men are pedophiles, what kind of a world does he live in?
Kangol2
He’s telling on himself, Polaro. That’s the world he lives in.
Brian
When these fools speak like this, they’re proving that they spend no time around children. Kindergarteners are making terrible paintings and having races to see who can tie their shoes first. Their spelling tests are with words like “the” and “and.” They are not learning about sexual intercourse. That is not happening at all. Anyone with kids in these grades should know this. And if you have kids, and you still believe in the conspiracy theories, then it proves you’re an inattentive and crappy parent.
Tombear
This is difficult to believe if true. The man makes his living in the gayest of gay industry. It doesn’t make sense. He either is in the stages of early dementia or he never wants his play produced again if true.
bachy
We are witnessing just the type of bizarre allegations and mounting sexual hysteria that led directly to the Salem witch trials, the McMartin preschool trials and other similar cases. Any day now some crackpot will reveal they’ve discovered a network of tunnels under the schools where teachers are sacrificing children in satanic rituals!
Of course, no evidence will ever be provided, but thousands will be terrorized into lame-brained, regressive and destructive political action. It’s called fomenting mob rule and it’s a Republican strategy.
Kangol2
Some journalist needs to ask creep David Mamet where on earth “kindergartners are ‘trained in a bizarre catechism of sexual identity politics.'” Where on earth is that happening? It isn’t except in what’s left of his fevered, right-wing brain.’
He also claimed that “what we have is kids not only being indoctrinated but groomed, in a very real sense, by people who are, whether they know it or not, sexual predators,” and the response from any reputable journalist would be, WHERE is this occurring? Provide proof or shut the f*ck up! But there is no proof, just right-wing fever dreams to create fear and hysteria and allow them to seize power. Their right-wing gay, bi and trans lackeys really need to think twice about their support for these folks, because they’re going to be consumed the very social and political conflagration they’re aiding and abetting.
Joshooeerr
Is it wrong that my first thought was “Yay, this gives me the reason I need to never see another one of his tedious, massively over-rated talkfests masquerading as plays”? He’s been a pompous windbag long before this comment.
JRamonMc
His claim that sex education shouldn’t be taught in school but left to parents is preposterous. If we left it to parents, it would never be taught at all and teen pregnancy would be even higher than it already is. Parents may know how to have sex, but discussing it openly and knowledgeably is as embarrassing to them as it is their kids. Leave it to professional teachers who actually study the subject, not just perform the act.
Fname Optional Lname
He cares more about being on television and getting exposure than he does about anything that is coming out of his ignorant lips
Jim
He’s admitting that HE is a predator. In needs to be investigated
barryaksarben
I cant help but wonder how many of the right actually attended a public school?I saw some mean nasty unhappy women and men teachers but they all seemed like they wanted to spend less time with any children than to want to have sex with them. I have never in my 65 years known a single sexual predator of children or pedos. I have never heard a bit of wild gossip about anyone much less a teacher being a pedo so where are all these so called groomers? By the rights numbers there should be billions of kids missing into the sex trade so where are their parents and HOW MANY are HONESTLY missing, I have of anyone I have ever met that has lost a child to sex trafficing. Im sure there are a few but they cant POSSIBLY be in the numbers they use to scare parents, More Honesty would be nice but donnie taught them to jsut lie bigger