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Jerry Seinfeld's comedy show on June 17 at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia got disrupted by a heckler who interrupted the "Seinfeld" creator's set by shouting: "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free." In video from the event shared by the Australian Jewish Association, Seinfeld was seen roasting the heckler as security escorted him outside.
"We have a genius, ladies and gentlemen. He solved the Middle East!" Seinfeld said sarcastically as the audience laughed and cheered (via Rolling Stone). "It's the Jewish comedians, that's who we have to get! They're the ones doing everything."
Seinfeld continued to mock the heckler by saying security was "going to start punching you in three seconds, so I would try and get all your genius out so we all learn from you. It's a comedy show, you moron. Get out of here."
As the heckler continued to shout "Palestine will be free" as he was being ejected from the arena, Seinfeld quipped: "Go ahead, keep going! They're going to start punching you in about three seconds so I would try to get all of your genius out so we can all learn from you," Seinfeld told the man. "It's a comedy show, you moron! Get out of here."
"You're really influencing everyone here," Seinfeld added. "We're all on your side now, because you've made your point so well, and in the right venue, you've come to the right place for a political conversation."
Seinfeld has been outspoken in his support for Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. He made a trip to Israel last December and met with families of the hostages taken during Hamas' Oct. 7 attack. He faced protestors in May while receiving an honorary degree at Duke University.
According to the New York Times, dozens of students left the graduation ceremony and chanted "Free, free Palestine" in protest of Seinfeld. Others in the crowd responded to the protesters with applause and cheers of approval for Seinfeld, who began his speech with, "Thank you. Oh my God, what a beautiful day."
Seinfeld did not address the walkouts directly during his commencement speech, although he hinted at the culture of political correctness in his advice to the graduates.
"I totally admire the ambitions of your generation to create a more just and inclusive society," he said. "I think it is also wonderful that you care so much about not hurting other people's feelings in the million and one ways we all do that every second of every day," Seinfeld said. "It's lovely to want to fix those things, but -- all caps, but -- what I need to tell you as a comedian, do not lose your sense of humor. You can have no idea at this point in your life how much you're going to need it to get through."
Speaking to podcaster Bari Weiss last month, Seinfeld addressed protestors by saying: "It's so dumb. In fact, when we get protesters occasionally, I love to say to the audience, 'You know, I love that these young people, they're trying to get engaged with politics...we just have to correct their aim a little bit."
Watch Seinfeld's incident with the heckler in Australia in the post below.
