Comedian and actor Jerry Seinfeld has compared the Free Palestine movement to the rhetoric of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) and described it as antisemitic.
Seinfeld, 71, was speaking at a Duke University event to introduce freed Hamas hostage Omer Shem Tov, who was held in captivity for 505 days.
“Free Palestine is, to me, just — you’re free to say you don’t like Jews. Just say you don’t like Jews,” Seinfeld said, according to Duke University newspaper The Chronicle.
Highlights
- Jerry Seinfeld compared the Free Palestine movement to the Ku Klux Klan, calling it antisemitic during a Duke University event.
- Seinfeld introduced freed Hamas hostage Omer Shem Tov after making the comments.
- Seinfeld’s 2024 Duke commencement speech faced protests and walkouts with chants of 'Free Palestine' from some students.
- At a 2024 comedy show in Sydney, Seinfeld confronted hecklers chanting pro-Palestinian slogans with sharp retorts.
Jerry Seinfeld compared Free Palestine to the KKK as he introduced Omer Shem Tov at Duke
Image credits: Valerie Terranova/Getty Images for Bob Woodruff Foundation
“So it’s actually — compared to the Ku Klux Klan, I’m actually thinking the Klan is actually a little better here because they can come right out and say, ‘We don’t like blacks, we don’t like Jews.’ Okay that’s honest.”
Seinfeld made the comments during a surprise appearance at the event on Tuesday, September 9, organized by Chabad at Duke.
“Tuesday’s talk was a Chabad at Duke student-led event that invited Omer Shem Tov to share the story of his spiritual journey during 505 days in captivity,” a university spokesperson told The Chronicle.
Image credits: Amir Levy/Getty Images
“Jerry Seinfeld introduced the speaker and requested his appearance not be announced beforehand, given Omer Shem Tov’s experiences were the focus of the event.
“Duke does not preview the remarks of speakers who are invited to campus, and the invitation of speakers to campus does not imply any endorsement of their remarks.”
Seinfeld, who is Jewish, has previously faced controversy over his views on Israel’s war in Gaza.
He travelled to Israel in December 2023 to meet the families of hostages abducted by Hamas during the October 7 terror attack.
In May 2024, there were protests when he received an honorary degree from Duke University.
Several students left their seats as he was introduced as that year’s commencement speaker, to a mix of boos and cheers.
Some shouted, “Free, free, free Palestine” amid the walkout.
Seinfeld has also been targeted by hecklers over his views during some of his comedy shows.
Seinfeld’s wife has also faced controversy
At a comedy show in Sydney, Australia, in June 2024, his set was disrupted with chants of “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” Variety reported.
In response, Seinfeld told his fans, “We have a genius, ladies and gentlemen. He solved the Middle East!”
“It’s the Jewish comedians, that’s who we have to get! They’re the ones doing everything,” he added.
The heckler was then removed from the show but continued to shout, “Palestine will be free.”
Image credits: John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images
“Go ahead, keep going!” Seinfeld replied. “They’re going to start punching you in about three seconds, so I would try to get all of your genius out so we can all learn from you. It’s a comedy show, you moron! Get out of here.”
Seinfeld’s wife has also faced controversy over her $5,000 donation to a pro-Israeli group in April last year.
The group counterprotested a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of California, with the protest turning violent.