Jerry Seinfeld's show in Norfolk, Va., was interrupted eight times by pro-Palestinian protesters, one of whom was wrestled to the ground by other audience members.

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.”

  • Serinus@lemmy.world
    14·
    6 months ago

    Most people consider every issue to be black and white, which is ironic considering Israel/Palestine is probably the most gray issue in modern times.

    I’ll list out enough points that each side will hate some of them and want to argue. I hear that’s a great way to get up votes. But in the end I hope we can agree on most of these as facts, even if there are excuses and reasons.

    • Most Gazans want to kill every Israeli Source
    • Israel actually is killing much of Gaza
    • There are valid reasons for the Palestinians to hate the Israelis
    • The Israelis are under constant attack, even if they rebuff most of the attacks
    • The Israelis have a right to defend themselves
    • Israel has gone much farther than defense warrants.
    • Israel is going to use this as an excuse to settle more Palestinian land
    • Netanyahu enabled Hamas
    • People have a right to protest, and the crackdowns on peaceful protests are despicable
    • Count042@lemmy.ml
      19·
      6 months ago

      Most Gazans want to kill every Israeli Source

      Still waiting on that source. Cause that link you posted didn’t make that claim at all.

      Did you not read it, like, at all? Or are you lying intentionally to try and justify genocide and try and make a black and white issue (Is genocide ever justified?) into something … nuanced?

      I will say, this is the most subtle form of pro-genocide propaganda I’ve seen. Well done.

      • MrBobDobalina@lemmy.ml
        13·
        6 months ago

        Right?? Their very first point is such inflammatory bs, it’s insane that they would try to prove it with that source. The most basic reading comprehension will tell you that they are making stuff up.

        Most Gazans agreeing that the actions of Hamas on Oct 7 were ‘correct’ does not equate to those same Gazans agreeing with every single Hamas stance. Such a dumb leap to go from that to “Most Gazans want to kill every Israeli”… Pathetic, evil, pro-genocide bullshit

    • TheTetrapod@lemmy.world
      11·
      6 months ago

      I want to point out a key distinction that you successfully made here. Individual Israelis have a right to defend themselves. I, personally, do not recognize the state of Israel nor its supposed right to self-defense.

      • WamGams@lemmy.ca
        7·
        6 months ago

        You recognizing the state of Israel does nothing to change the fact that they exist and have the right to defend themselves from terrorists.

        You aren’t personally offering to house 8 million Jews as a way to entice them to leave their current location and nobody else is either, therefore, 8 million Jews are in Israel and have a formed government to protect themselves with.

        If the goal is piece, which I think we agree it is, denying Jews a homeland is counter productive to those goals. Try bringing credible paths forward.

      • Serinus@lemmy.world
        2·
        6 months ago

        No, that is absolutely not what I meant. Israelis have a right to form a government, and that government is right to protect its citizens (that is not what it’s doing right now).

        You did make me change the second part from “has a right” to “is right to”, which is interesting.

        Palestinians should also have a right to form a government. If I say they have a right to protect their citizens, that likely means war and genocide. I’d hope that if the Palestinians form a government and a state, they realize that they lose the war and decide that peace is in their best interests.

        Either way, the full on genocide needs to stop. Whether I think the Gazans are murderous, religious zealots or not*, they’re still human. They deserve aid. Israel’s blocking of aid should have been enough that we pull support. Maybe we did behind the scenes, who knows. We shouldn’t be funding Israel (or Northern Virginia, really), as much as we do. I don’t think Israel collapses without US munitions, certainly not to Palestine. Defending them from Iran is fine (which is also not what we’re doing).

        Palestinians don’t want peace. Israelis don’t want peace. What the fuck are we supposed to do about it? We can try to limit the damage in the short term (and we should), but I don’t have long term solutions, and I don’t think anyone else does either.

        *(I understand they have reason to be. But is wanting to murder an entire people ever justified?)

        • baru@lemmy.world
          2·
          6 months ago

          But is wanting to murder an entire people ever justified?

          The previous person already said you should back that statement up. And then you repeat it again.