Jerry Seinfeld Faces Protests as He Receives Honorary Degree at Duke University
As Jerry Seinfeld, known for his iconic comedy and recent vocal support for Israel, received an honorary degree at Duke University’s commencement ceremony, he faced a wave of protests from students.
During the ceremony, dozens of students stood up, waved Palestinian flags, and chanted “Free, free Palestine” as Seinfeld looked on with a tense smile. The comedian, who has two children who have attended Duke, has been more outspoken about his support for Israel in recent weeks, drawing both criticism and praise.
Despite the protests, Seinfeld remained mostly cautious in his commencement speech, opting for a comedic script interspersed with life advice. However, he did defend various types of privilege, acknowledging his Jewish upbringing in New York as a privilege in the world of comedy.
Outside the stadium, graduates continued to protest, chanting slogans like “Disclose, divest, we will not stop, we will not rest.” Seinfeld’s wife, Jessica Seinfeld, has also been involved in promoting counterprotests and supporting Israel.
While Seinfeld’s activism may be a departure from his usual apolitical stance, he has made it clear that his personal feelings on the issue are strong but not something he preaches about publicly.
Not everyone at Duke was pleased with Seinfeld’s presence, with some calling for him to be replaced as a commencement speaker due to his support for Israel. Despite the controversy, Seinfeld’s honorary degree ceremony was a memorable and eventful occasion at Duke University.
