Jerry Seinfeld is taking back his “insulting” comments about Howard Stern.
Seinfeld, 70, threw shade at the host of “The Howard Stern Show” when he appeared on Dana Carvey and David Spade’s “Fly on the Wall” podcast Wednesday.
“Howard is interesting. Howard is a great interviewer, but comedy chops, I mean, can we speak candidly?” he said.
The “Seinfeld” creator claimed that Stern has “been outflanked” by other talented podcasters, including Carvey, 68, and Spade, 59.
Seinfeld later apologized for his comments about Stern in a statement to Page Six Wednesday.
“I really feel bad for what I said about my friend Howard Stern in a conversation with David Spade and Dana Carvey, talking about the glut of comedy podcasts,” Seinfeld said.
“I meant to say he must feel surrounded but I said ‘outflanked’ which sounded terrible and insulting,” the stand-up comedian continued. “And of course, none of these little shows are any threat to his giant show. Anyway, it was bad and I’m sorry, Howie. I still love you. Please forgive me.”
Stern has yet to respond to Seinfeld’s apology.
On the “Fly on the Wall” podcast, Seinfeld acknowledged that while Stern “invented” comedy interview podcasts, he thinks the King of All Media has lost his touch.
“We’re better than him now,” Seinfeld said.
The Emmy Award winner criticized Stern’s “comedy chops” and said that “Fly on the Wall” is the “best” comedy podcast on-air.
“Because you guys play nice together, it’s smooth, you’re not jumping on each other, which is annoying to listen to,” he said.
Seinfeld also took a shot at podcast hosts who share too much about their personal lives — though it’s unclear if he was alluding to Stern.
“Jesus Christ, make us laugh, how interesting do you think you are?” Seinfeld said. “You’re not that interesting, okay? You’re not. When you’re funny, you’re worth it. This is my line, which you know me, you know me, no but you know that I draw that line. If you’re not that funny, we’re not that interested in you.”
While Seinfeld critiqued Stern this week, Stern actually gave the stand-up comedian his props back in 2019 during an appearance on “The View.”
Stern was talking about his book, “Howard Stern Comes Again,” that has stories from his interviews with celebrities including Seinfeld, whom Stern referred to as “accomplished.”
“With some of these people who are so accomplished, like Jerry Seinfeld, or Amy Poehler, they’re so accomplished, but you forget how hard they work to get where they got,” Stern said at the time.
