Pulitzer Prize Winning Playwright David Mamet Torches DEI as ‘Fascist Totalitarianism’

Photo by Alessia Paradisi/Sipa USA

Pulitzer Prize winning playwright David Mamet dismissed DEI policies as “fascist totalitarianism” in a fiery takedown at the at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.

Mamet is best known for works like Glengarry Glen Ross and American Buffalo. He’s worked extensively in Hollywood as a director behind movies like House of Games and shows like The Unit. His latest work, a memoir called Everywhere an Oink Oink, consists of stories from the writer’s career peppered with his usual disdain for Hollywood establishment and political correctness.

“DEI is garbage,” Mamet said at the book festival, referring to “diversity, equality, and inclusion.” Such policies have been the topic of heated discussion, especially in light of the Supreme Court in 2023 effectively ending affirmative action policies for colleges.

Mamet called DEI “fascisct totalitarianism,” as first reported by the Los Angeles Times.

Mamet took issue with new inclusion standards put in place by the Academy of Motion Pictures for films to be eligible for Oscar consideration. Films must now meet two of four diversity standards for inclusion, which count things like diversity in front of and behind the camera.

Mamet called the act “intrusive.”

“I can’t give you a stupid fucking statue unless you have 7% of this, 8% of that … it’s intrusive,” he said.

Mamet blasted Hollywood as the last place that should be lecturing on race, arguing many minority groups were kept out of work for years in the business. He predicted eventual “death” for the modern film industry.

“The [film industry] has little business improving everybody’s racial understanding as does the fire department,” he said.