Jerry Seinfeld Duke University Speech Protest: Why Did Students Walk Out & Chant 'Free Palestine?
Photo by: Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images

Jerry Seinfeld Duke University Speech Protest: Why Did Students Walk out & Chant ‘Free Palestine?

Jerry Seinfeld has been no stranger to controversy over his career as an actor and comedian, and some students walked out during his recent Duke University speech. Accordingly, fans are curious about the cause of the incident. Here’s everything you need to know.

What happened during Jerry Seinfield’s Duke University speech?

On Sunday, May 12, Jerry Seinfeld accepted his honorary degree at Duke University but faced an unexpected turn of events. 

According to a New York Times report, some Duke University students delayed Seinfeld’s speech by displaying their support for Palestine. Ever since the Hamas attack in October, Seinfeld has voiced his support for Israel, which led to his speech being halted when some students started waving Palestine flags and chanting “Free Palestine.”

Many people followed the protest by leaving the graduation ceremony. Others in the crowd showed their support for the protestors. Even after leaving the ceremony, some students, families, and faculty members resumed the chants.

Although Seinfield didn’t address the situation, he shared some words for the remaining students. He said, “I totally admire the ambitions of your generation to create a more just and inclusive society. I think it is also wonderful that you care so much about not hurting other people’s feelings in the million and one ways we all do that every second of every day.”

The comedian continued, “It’s lovely to want to fix those things, but — all caps, but — what I need to tell you as a comedian, do not lose your sense of humor. You can have no idea at this point in your life how much you’re going to need it to get through.”

This isn’t the first time that the veteran comedian has been booed. When Seinfeld left the State of the World Jewry event, he was also protested by supporters of Palestine.

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