When Jerry Seinfeld, who has recently been vocal in his support for Israel, received an honorary degree at Duke University's graduation ceremony on Sunday, dozens of students came out and chanted “Free, Free Palestine.” The comedian watched with a nervous smile on his face. .
As students rose from their chairs, waved Palestinian flags and left the ceremony, Mr. Seinfeld stood next to school officials who relived the highlights of his career on stage at Duke Stadium. Many in the crowd heckled the demonstrators.
In his commencement speech, Mr. Seinfeld was almost deliberate, opting for a tight comedy script sprinkled with life advice rather than fully responding to the outcry over his attendance.
Still, parts of the speech appeared to defend different kinds of privilege and allude to the elephant in the room.
“I grew up as a Jewish kid from New York,” he said, to applause from the crowd. “If you want to be a comedian, that's a privilege.”
Outside Duke University's stadium, alumni walked around campus chanting, “Disclose, sell, we won't stop, we won't rest.”
Mr. Seinfeld, who has two children attending Duke University, has been uncharacteristically vocal about his support for Jews in Israel in recent weeks while promoting his latest film, “Unfrosted,” which chronicles the invention of the PopTarts. was making a statement.
Typically an apolitical comedian with a penchant for putting punchy spins on mundane observations, Mr. Seinfeld is now engaged in the type of celebrity that few people associate with him. It has received both criticism and praise. Since the Oct. 7 attack in Israel, he has signed letters in support of Israel and posted serious messages on social media about his dedication to Israel.
His wife, cookbook author Jessica Seinfeld, recently took to Instagram to promote and help raise money for counter-protests at the University of California, Los Angeles, which led to clashes with pro-Palestinian demonstrators. He said the incident escalated into violence.
In December, Mr. Seinfeld traveled to Tel Aviv to meet with hostage families and spoke calmly about the aftermath of a missile attack that occurred during his trip.
Still, his comments on the issue were somewhat muted.
“I don't preach about it,” he told GQ last month. “I have personal feelings about it, and we discuss it privately. It's not part of what we can do as a comedy, but my feelings are very strong.”
Not everyone at Duke University was laughing at Mr. Seinfeld's joke Sunday.
The Rev. Stephen Weathers Sr. was an ordained minister in the American Baptist Church and received his Ph.D. The Divinity professor had written a letter to the university before the ceremony asking for the comedian's removal, citing Seinfeld's continued and strong support for Israel.