In May 2024, while Jerry Seinfeld was giving a speech at Duke University to receive an honorary degree, some students protested because he had spoken in support of Israel during the Gaza conflict. Dozens of them walked out during his speech, shouting “Free, free Palestine,” and some people in the crowd booed as they left. Seinfeld stayed calm, waited for them to leave, and then joked to the audience, saying, “Thank you. Oh my God, what a beautiful day.”
During his speech, Seinfeld shared some life advice and jokes. He joked, “A lot of you are thinking, ‘I can’t believe they invited this guy.’ Too late,” and talked about standing up for the idea of privilege, mentioning his background as a Jewish boy from New York. He has strongly supported Israel since the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2024, and during the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Duke University said they were aware of the protests and stressed that it’s important for everyone to be able to share their opinions peacefully, while also making sure the event went smoothly for the graduates and their families.