Jerry Seinfeld made a controversial appearance at Duke University on Tuesday, where he compared the “Free Palestine” movement to the Ku Klux Klan. The college’s newspaper, The Chronicle, reported on Seinfeld’s comments after they were made at an event featuring Omer Shem Tov, a former Israeli hostage who was held captive by Hamas for 505 days.
“Free Palestine is, to me, just — you’re free to say you don’t like Jews,” Seinfeld said. “Just say you don’t like Jews. By saying ‘Free Palestine,’ you’re not admitting what you really think. 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.’ OK that’s honest.”
Variety has reached out to Seinfeld’s representative for comment.
A spokesperson for Duke University told The Chronicle: “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.”
The event hosted a conversation with Omer Shem Tov about his spiritual journey while being held hostage after he was kidnapped by Hamas while attending the Nova music festival on Oct. 7, 2023. According to The Chronicle, Seinfeld appeared at the event as “part of a brief introduction to Shem Tov and the event’s moderator, N.C. State Sen. Sophia Chitlik, D-Durham.” The event was “was sponsored primarily by Chabad at Duke, as well as the Provost’s Initiative on the Middle East, University centers and Jewish student groups.” Seinfeld’s appearance was not advertised beforehand.
Seinfeld has been outspoken in his support for Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. He made a trip to Israel in December 2023 and met with families of the hostages taken during the Oct. 7 attack. He later faced protesters in May 2024 while receiving an honorary degree at Duke University and was heckled by Palestine supporters at a June 2024 comedy show in Sydney, Australia. His set was disrupted by chants such as “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
“We have a genius, ladies and gentlemen. He solved the Middle East!” Seinfeld said sarcastically to the hecklers as the audience laughed and cheered. “It’s the Jewish comedians, that’s who we have to get! They’re the ones doing everything.”
As the heckler continued to shout “Palestine will be free” as he was being ejected from the arena, Seinfeld quipped: “Go ahead, keep going! 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.”
While Seinfeld received an honorary degree at Duke University, dozens of students left the graduation ceremony and chanted “Free, free Palestine” in protest of his appearance. Others in the crowd responded to the protesters with applause and cheers of approval for Seinfeld.
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