Jerry Seinfeld’s week of difficult appearances continues, this time in Virginia.
As soon as Seinfeld took the stage for a stand-up comedy set at Chrysler Hall in Norfolk on Saturday night, a man in the audience jumped up and yelled, “Free Gaza,” TMZ reported. The audience immediately began booing the heckler and chanting “Jerry! Jerry!” as another bystander wrestled the protester into a headlock.
Security escorted the man out of the building, but the show was interrupted by other protesters eight times throughout its 90-minute run.
The controversy around Seinfeld’s views stems from his vocal support of Israel — which he visited following the Oct. 7 attacks — and his wife’s $5,000 donation to a GoFundMe for pro-Israel counterprotesters at UCLA after a late April protest turned violent.
Seinfeld didn’t seem bothered by the interruptions, telling the crowd not to boo the man because he had a right to protest.
“This is exciting. I like this,” the comic said as the original protester was escorted out of the venue. “I like a little Jew hate to spice up the show.”
If Palestine became its own state tomorrow, with Gaza and the West Bank, and Israel did everything right as of tomorrow (a big ask, I know), do you think Israel would continue to suffer attacks? For how long? Do you think continued violence is justified because of what Israel is doing now?
I’m interested in a path to peace, but I don’t see one. I don’t like “free Gaza” because what does that even look like?
If it’s just short for “stop genocide” then fine. But I don’t see what it can mean past that.