Jerry Seinfeld's Stand-Up Sparks Brawl Involving Pro-Palestinian Protesters
By Afouda Bamidele on May 20, 2024 at 8:15 AM EDT
Jerry Seinfeld continues to receive no love from pro-Palestinian protesters as they recently interrupted his comedy show.
Over the weekend, the comedian's fans and pro-Palestinian supporters clashed during his stand-up performance at the Chrysler Hall in Norfolk. A video of the incident has since gone viral, capturing a brawl between one demonstrator and an audience member.
Pro-Palestinian Protesters Interrupt Jerry Seinfeld's Show
The discord between the pro-Palestinian protesters and Seinfeld's fans occurred on Saturday night. As soon as the stand-up personality took the stage, one demonstrator stood up and yelled, "Free Gaza!"
The pro-Palestinian supporters also shouted and pointed at audience members, saying they should be ashamed of themselves. The crowd responded with boos while one fan took matters into his hands.
The man jumped up and grabbed the demonstrator, wrestling with him and putting him in a headlock. Fortunately, the brawl didn't escalate thanks to security's swift response, and they escorted the protesters outside the venue.
This scene seemingly received the crowd's approval as they began chanting, "Jerry, Jerry, Jerry!!!" Unfortunately, the discord didn't end there as TMZ reported that eight demonstrators interrupted Seinfeld's 1.5 hour show.
The Comedian Wasn't Offended By The Disruptions
According to eyewitnesses, each time a pro-Palestinian protester disrupted Seinfeld's show they were escorted out of the venue by security without any trouble. Meanwhile, the comedian took it all in stride and didn't let them stop him from completing his gig.
When the brawl broke out between the first demonstrator and an audience member, Seinfeld reportedly told the crowd not to boo the man because he had every right to protest.
He also added humor to the situation, saying, "I love a little Jew hate to spice up the show." Thanks to his unruffled reaction to the disruptions, Seinfeld successfully ended his gig to a standing ovation.
The comedian might have been cool with the interruptions as it wasn't his first rodeo with pro-Palestinian protesters. A week ago, demonstrators staged a walk-out at Duke University after the commencement of Seinfeld's speech to graduates.
Seinfeld Previously Sparked Health Concerns
A month before his run-ins with pro-Palestinian protesters, Seinfeld sparked concerns about his health during an appearance on Graham Bensinger's show.
The Blast reported that fans noticed the comedian had trembling hands and other concerning symptoms, leading to speculations about his well-being.
"Has Jerry been diagnosed with anything- he seems to be shaking a lot," a fan observed, while another wondered, "Has Jerry got early Parkinson's?" A third painted a dire picture of Seinfeld's health, claiming:
"He has signs of losing his mind. Mark my words. I so wish I could see what I'm saying now when the day comes. That head bobbing around is just the beginning."
Despite fans' speculations, the stand-up personality's words didn't hint at any sickness as he proudly promoted his upcoming film, "Unfrosted."
He also reflected on his marriage to author Jessica Seinfeld, with whom he shares three children: Sascha, 23, Julian, 21, and Shepherd, 18.
Why Seinfeld Believes Most Comedians Aren't Cut Out For Marriage
While reflecting on his marriage, Seinfeld revealed the reason why most comedians avoid walking down the aisle. "I was a very successful comedian. A comedian is an in-one act," he recalled, "You think, 'I don't need anyone.' That's what a comedian thinks. This is not a good partner."
Seinfeld continued: "Someone who doesn't think they need anyone isn't a good partner. This is why most comedians either fail at marriage or don't even try it… it's really not for us. I wanted to do it to see if I could do something I'm really not cut out for."
Besides succeeding at something he thought he wasn't cut out for, Seinfeld also enjoys being a father. He described his children as "the greatest show on earth," raving:
"You just want to watch them live. And the entertainment value of watching them try to live is…The kids are very entertaining because they're primitive humans."
Jerry Seinfeld Apologized To Howard Stern For Slamming His Radio Show
Weeks before his show was interrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters, Seinfeld issued a public apology to entertainment icon Howard Stern. The Blast shared that he got on the older comedian's bad side when he claimed there were better comedy podcasts on air than Stern's.
Seinfeld declared Stern had become "outflanked" in the podcast industry, words he swallowed in another interview. Reflecting on his poor choice of words, the 70-year-old said:
"I really feel bad for what I said about my friend Howard Stern in a conversation with David Spade and Dana Carvey, talking about the glut of comedy podcasts."
Seinfield stressed that he didn't mean to talk down on Stern's podcast or imply that other shows were better than his. "Anyway, it was bad, and I'm sorry, Howie. I still love you. Please forgive me," the comedian begged.