Clint blasts political correctness brigade

Clint Eastwood hit out at the political correctness brigade today, saying people had been left “walking on eggshells”.

Speaking on UK television, the Hollywood actor and director said the world had “become boring” as people worried about joking about different races and religious groups.

Eastwood, who plays curmudgeonly Korean War veteran Walt Kowalski in his new movie 'Gran Torino', said: “I think the PC madness is what’s refreshing about playing this character.

“When I grew up there were a lot of people like this, and everybody didn’t take themselves so seriously.

“People would kid themselves about everybody’s... whatever race they were, whatever ethnic, religious groups they were.

“Everybody would joke about it and everybody got along just fine.

“But then we’ve come to this now where everybody has to be walking on eggshells – kind of very... sensitive.

“And so it’s become boring, kind of, and I think everybody would like to be Walt Kowalski for about 10 minutes.”

Eastwood, 78, said he had no plans to stop directing films as it helped him stay young.

“I like taking it easy, I like golf and I like Budweiser. All that stuff is fine, but the main thing is I still like working, I think working keeps you young, I think it keeps your mind active.

“It’s like exercising your body – exercising your brain. Both of them are synonymous.”