Comedian Larry David says he was thrilled to be axed from Barack Obama 's 60th birthday party guest list over fears he'd be aske...
Comedian Larry David says he was thrilled to be axed from Barack Obama's 60th birthday party guest list over fears he'd be asked to perform a live routine.
The Curb Your Enthusiasm star, 74, shared how he surprised the party planner by reacting with delight on being told he'd been cut from the guest list.
In Maureen Dowd's latest column for The New York Times, the Seinfeld co-creator shared why he was so glad when Obama's assistant cancelled his invitation to the party.
'I was pretty glum when I finally called back his assistant,'
'When he told me I was eighty-sixed from the party, I was so relieved I screamed, 'Thank you! Thank you!' He must have thought I was insane,'
'Then I hung up the phone, poured myself a drink and finished my crossword puzzle,' Dowd quoted him saying.
David, who was at his home on the island, went on to say that he figured he was going to be asked to perform comedy at the bash.
Dreading to prepare a routine just three days before the party, David said news that he was no longer welcome at the party were music to his ears.
Obama's birthday bash, which boasted A-list celebrity guests such as John Legend, Jay-Z and Beyoncé and was celebrated at the Obamas' $12million compound in Martha's Vineyard, was initially planned to have a 600-person guest list.
But amid backlash that his party would be a 'super-spreader' event as the country saw a rise on cases of the Delta Variant, Obama scaled back his invitations.
Many were reportedly hurt by the decision and David was perhaps the only uninvited guest who reacted not only relieved, but thrilled, to have been left out.
Comedian Larry Kennedy (pictured) told NYT columnist Maureen Dowd that he was relived to have been uninvited to president Obama's controversial 60th birthday bash
In her column 'Behold Barack Antoinette,' Dowd was critical of Obama for axing people who helped him to the top from his lavish 60th birthday guest list in favor of A-list stars
Talk-show hosts such as Stephen Colbert, Conan O'Brien and David Letterman, and Obama's former advisors such as his campaign chief strategist David Axelrod and his chief of staff Rahm Emanuel were erased from the final list. But Dowd focuses her criticism on Obama's treatment of the latter group, arguing that he chose celebrities over administration staff and politicians who helped him rise to become the 44th president of the United States.
Dowd compares Obama to F Scott Fitzgerald's Jay Gatsby, arguing that while the fictional character wanted to impress Daisy, his love interest, with a lavish celebration, Obama threw a party because 'being cool is important to him.'
'One difference is that Gatsby opened his house to the uninvited. Obama closed his house to many of the invited after getting flak for hosting 'a celebrity mosh pit,' as Stephen Colbert called it, while officials were telling people to mask back up.'
Dowd went on to condemn Obama's passive nature throughout his presidency, and his current seemingly fascination with the entertainment industry, citing the deal between his production company and Netflix to work on several documents and movies, his podcast with Bruce Springsteen and the book adaptation.
David (pictured) told Dowd that he feared he was going to be asked to perform a comedy routine
Dreading to prepare a routine just three days before the party, the assistant's call was sweet as honey to his ears
The former president disinvited his former chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel and chief campaign strategist David Axelrod. Dowd argues they were fundamental during his presidency and yet were replaced on his party by A-list celebrities
She also called Obama 'Barack Antoinette,' likening his ostentatious and 'new-rich' celebration to those of the infamous fallen queen of France.
Former staff who were disinvited are reportedly extremely hurt to have seen VIP personalities like John Legend and George Clooney, celebrating with who once was their boss, and close friend.
Dowd saying the lavish display was also damaging to the Democrat party as a whole.
She explained: 'The party crystallized the caricature of the Democratic Party that Joe Biden had to fight against in order to get elected,
'It was as far from Flint and Scranton as you can imagine: an orgy of the 1 percent — private jets, Martha’s Vineyard, limousine liberals and Hollywood whoring.'
Some guests cracked jokes about being cut from the guest list, with Caroline Kennedy telling the Times: 'I would have disinvited me if I was him.'
Dowd speculated that some of the wisecracks had been deployed in a bid to mask guests' hurt feelings.
According to a statement obtained by Fox, the Obamas reduced the guest list to include 'only family and close friends.'
'President Obama is appreciative of others sending their birthday wishes from afar and looks forward to seeing people soon,' said Hannah Hankins, a spokeswoman for Obama.
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