Jerry Seinfeld delivered the commencement address at Duke University's 2024 commencement ceremony on Sunday, prompting a group of pro-Palestinian students to stage a mass walkout in protest.
Video capturing the moment was posted online and shows the tension at the ceremony. When Duke President Vincent Price introduced Seinfeld (literally saying, “So, what's the problem with our commencement speaker?”), dozens of students got up and walked out, some waving Palestinian flags. Chants of “Free Palestine” were heard, while many booed (although the videos do not make clear whether the boos were directed at Seinfeld, the student protesters, or both).
The incident comes after Seinfeld faced criticism for his support of Israel. In 2018, he He posed with machine guns at a military training center. in Efrat (a settlement illegally located within the West Bank), and after hostilities broke out last October, aware that he “will always be with Israel.” In December he visited Israeli families living on the Gaza border who were affected by the conflict.
Additionally, his wife, Jessica Sklar, confirmed that she helped finance counterprotesters who interrupted the pro-Palestinian demonstrations at UCLA.
This has sparked some backlash against Seinfeld, and last February videos of pro-Palestinian protesters booing him in New York City went viral. Plus, Seinfeld dug himself into an even deeper hole of not-so-good optics with his recent suggestion that the “far-left and PC crap” are to blame for the demise of television comedy.
In any case, the “far left” must have dropped the ball by causing the downfall of comedy films as well, since the last Seinfeld project, without freezingpremiered on Netflix earlier this month.
As for his actual graduation remarks at Duke's graduation ceremony, after the protesting students left, Seinfeld gave a “what you'd expect” speech, addressing college life, artificial intelligence, and his honorary degree. recently awarded by the institution.
Seinfeld isn't the only recipient of pro-Palestinian boos, as the Israeli Eurovision contestant was greeted with major controversy this week. As for the ongoing conflict, more than 1,500 Israelis and 35,000 Palestinians have been killed in recent months.
Student walkout at Duke University graduation when Jerry Seinfeld's speech is announced. the university president's presentation of him is being drowned out by chants of “Free, Free Palestine” ❤️🔥🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/oNLesaput3
— the big clown snorman (@iamschvitzing) May 12, 2024
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