Chris Rock Compares Wokeness to Salem Witch Trials

Comedian Chris Rock criticizes ‘wokeness’ as a modern Salem Witch Hunt, calling it a culture of no forgiveness.

2 min read

Comedian Chris Rock has drawn a controversial comparison between the current cultural climate and the Salem Witch Trials, suggesting that the so-called ‘wokeness’ movement has become a system of no forgiveness. During an interview with David Marchese on The Interview podcast, Rock discussed his upcoming film Misty Green and the theme of forgiveness, which led to a broader conversation about the state of American society.

Forgiveness and Cancel Culture

Rock spoke about a friend who had been ‘canceled’ and how another friend questioned his continued association with that person. He emphasized that the point was not to condone abusive behavior, but to highlight the importance of true friendship. ‘If you’re only friends with your friends when they’re good, they’re not your friends,’ Rock said.

Wokeness and the Old Testament

The conversation turned to the culture of the past few years, with Rock describing the current state as being in the ‘Old Testament.’ He praised the fact that marginalized people now have a voice but warned that the lack of forgiveness in this era is problematic. ‘The Old Testament has no forgiveness. The Old Testament didn’t work, so they had to write a remix called the New Testament,’ he said.

Salem Witch Trials as a Metaphor

Rock likened the current situation to the Salem Witch Trials, suggesting that the initial accusations may have been justified but the system has since become a tool for creating false narratives. ‘So, my half a joke — the Salem Witch Hunts. I’m sure the first three witches they caught were actually f-cking witches. But then you open up a witch office, and now you gotta start lying. Now, you gotta f-cking make sh-t up ’cause you got overhead.’

Political Reactions

Several Democrats have begun distancing themselves from the intense ‘wokeness’ of the time, with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recently declaring that ‘Woke 1 was crazy,’ despite being one of its most prominent faces. Rock emphasized that helping people who need help is still worth doing, but warned against institutionalizing it.