Canadian actor Seth Rogen has been called “privileged’ after getting into a Twitter back and forth with YouTuber Casey Neistat about crime in Los Angeles.
The incident began when Neistat tweeted that his car had been broken into and disparaged crime levels in the Californian city.
Neistat wrote: “So our cars got robbed this morning because Los Angeles is a crime riddled 3rd world s**thole of a city.”
so our cars got robbed this morning because Los Angeles is a crime riddled 3rd world shithole of a city but tremendous appreciation and gratitude to the hardworking officers at the @LAPDWestLA who not only arrested the motherfucker but they got all of our stolen goods back
— Casey Neistat (@Casey) November 24, 2021
In response to the tweet, Rogen, who is originally from Vancouver but has lived in LA for decades, replied defending the city and suggested it’s part and parcel of living in an urban area.
Rogen replied: “Dude I’ve lived here for over 20 years. You’re nuts haha. It’s lovely here. Don’t leave anything valuable in it. It’s called living in a big city.”
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Neistat responded asking if it’s still allowed to be “mad”, saying he feels “so violated”.
Rogen sarcastically replied with a story about how someone once left a cool knife in his car and revealed his vehicles have been broken into around “15 or so” times.
He wrote: “You can be mad but I guess I don’t personally view my car as an extension of myself and I’ve never really felt violated any of the 15 or so times my car was broken in to.
“Once a guy accidentally left a cool knife in my car so if it keeps happening you might get a little treat.”
You can be mad but I guess I don’t personally view my car as an extension of myself and I’ve never really felt violated any of the 15 or so times my car was broken in to. Once a guy accidentally left a cool knife in my car so if it keeps happening you might get a little treat.
— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) November 25, 2021
Some people took offence to Rogen’s comments, clearly feeling as though his wealth was skewing his view.
One person replied: “Imagine being so rich and privileged you can afford not to be worried if your car gets broken into.”
Imagine being so rich and privileged you can afford not to be worried if your car gets broken into
— who wants to try next 🇨🇱 (@greencomulon) November 25, 2021
Another said: “Say you’re so wealthy you’re completely disconnected from common people without telling me you’re so wealthy you’re completely disconnected from common people.”
Say you're so wealthy you're completely disconnected from common people without telling me you're so wealthy you're completely disconnected from common people.
— Daigotsu Elenti (@ScarletElenti) November 25, 2021
Despite the backlash, others agreed with Rogen saying that it’s not nice but you just have to carry on.
Someone responded: “LA is just one big ‘ol adventure all of the time. Sometimes you just gotta roll with it.”
Had my car stolen in Hollywood. They found it in Inglewood a couple days later. Someone took it for a joy ride to a Rams game. LA is just one big ‘ol adventure all of the time. Sometimes you just gotta roll with it.
— Kristen McPike (@KrisMcPikeMusic) November 25, 2021
Rogen responded to the criticism using his typical humour.
A lot of people come at me and talk shit on Twitter hoping I’ll engage with them publicly and give them attention, but instead I DM them and tell them to go fuck themselves privately. It’s a lot more fun.
— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) November 25, 2021
