David Mamet Takes on Tinseltown: Calls Diversity Push 'Fascist Totalitarianism
Legendary Hollywood screenwriter David Mamet is unequivocal about the entertainment industry's push for greater diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). "DEI is garbage," declared Mamet at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, where he engaged in a candid dialogue with Matt Brennan. Mamet, renowned for his incisive scriptwriting and directorial prowess, characterized the industry's DEI initiatives as "fascist totalitarianism," as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
During an informal exchange at USC's Newman Recital Hall, Mamet, whose career spans four decades in Hollywood, expressed his disdain for the lack of individual autonomy within an industry he perceives as undergoing cycles of growth, maturity, decay, and eventual demise, particularly following recent industry upheavals such as the Hollywood writers' strike.
"In an industry marked by its ebb and flow, there's scant space for personal agency," Mamet lamented. Speculating on the future landscape, he predicted a reduction in opportunities but anticipated a refinement in script quality. Dismissing any suggestion of nepotism benefiting his own children, including Zosia Mamet of Girls fame, Mamet emphasized, "They earned their place through merit alone. No one handed them opportunities due to familial connections."
Mamet's remarks underscore his steadfast belief in the primacy of individual merit within an industry grappling with evolving norms and practices.
