Dan Aykroyd says California is a ‘medieval’ mess with 60,000 homeless while praising peace in Canada’s countryside
Dan Aykroyd took a jab at California, describing parts of the state as “medieval” while contrasting its homelessness crisis with what he sees as the peace and safety of rural Canada.
On The Adam Carolla Show, the actor reflected on war, safety and the stark differences he sees between parts of North America.
Dan Aykroyd criticizes California while praising Canada
Aykroyd spoke about the darker side of living in Santa Monica, California, after describing it as another pocket of “harmony, peace, joy by the sea.”
“It’s beautiful there, beautiful houses and beautiful shops and lovely wide boulevards and 60,000 homeless,” he said. “So the underside and the overside will always, always be there.”
Aykroyd revealed that California’s conditions have forced him to change how he approaches everyday life.
“We’re living in frankly medieval times,” he stated. “You go, I drive very carefully in the car. I don’t drive prison hours at night, have a gated place to live … lock up at night. Bring my family close, whereas really I would like to take my family and let them run in the park at 1 in the morning.”
He added, “But, no. We have to be so guarded now.” He also pointed to the wealth disparity by citing an example of Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s multi-million-dollar Malibu home.
“In order to get there, you have to drive through a homeless encampment,” Aykroyd explained the contrast.
The Ghostbuster star recalled these remarks from a conversation with a friend from Israel who once stayed at his Canadian farm.
Aykroyd’s friend asked him, “What is it like to live in a land where there’s no war?” when the two drove to a drugstore for ice cream.
The question struck Aykroyd as he drove through the Canadian countryside. In that moment, he realized how easily people can take peace for granted.
“It’s great to be living in the Western world,” the comedian declared before singing an old blues song about turmoil around the globe.
California’s homelessness crisis shows signs of change
Time reported in June that California still has the largest homeless population in the U.S., but recent federal data show a modest improvement.
According to a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) report cited by the outlet, California’s homeless population fell 2.8%, marking the state’s first decline since 2018.
The rate also dropped from 48 to 46 homeless people per 10,000 residents. Prevention programs, supportive housing and mental health services led to this small but hopeful shift.
However, California continues to face enormous challenges because 64,000 people are chronically homeless, according to HUD data.