"I believe in censorship. I made a fortune out of it"

Mae West’s quip, “I believe in censorship. I made a fortune out of it,” pulses with irony and defiance, encapsulating her notorious wit and boldness in an era of strict moral codes. Rather than lament the constraints imposed by censors in Hollywood and on the stage, West highlights a paradox: her massive popularity thrived precisely because boundaries were in place. Censorship, she implies, can wield power not just to suppress, but to entice, tease, and financially reward those clever enough to navigate its rules.

Mae West was a master at flirting with the taboo. Her double entendres and sly suggestions became more tantalizing precisely because open discussion of sexuality and risqué topics was forbidden or frowned upon. By straddling the edge of what was allowed—a space defined and enforced by censors—she generated buzz, curiosity, and controversy. Audiences flocked to her performances eager to catch a glimpse of something forbidden, to be in on the joke, to revel in the subversive thrill. Her career thus benefited from the very forces that tried to restrain her audacity.

At a deeper level, the statement mocks the hypocrisy and futility of censorship. While intended to maintain public morality and suppress provocative content, censorship often does the opposite; it amplifies the allure of whatever is being concealed. Forbidden fruit, after all, tastes sweetest. Mae West’s fortune grew not in spite of censorship, but because it allowed her to cultivate a provocative persona, drawing lines in the sand that she artfully tiptoed along.

Her observation stands as both a critique and celebration: censorship, so often framed as an adversary, became her unwitting accomplice. By turning regulation into profit and restriction into fame, West’s words continue to resonate, reminding us how societal limits can spark creativity, rebellion, and enduring cultural impact.