WATCH: Pro-Palestinian Protestors Walk Out on Jerry Seinfeld’s Commencement Address at Duke

Phillip NietoMay 12th, 2024, 4:17 pm
 

Jerry Seinfeld’s commencement speech at Duke University was interrupted on Sunday after dozens of students walked out while chanting “free Palestine.”

Videos shared on social media show student protesters began walking out of the ceremony when the Jewish actor and comic was set to begin his commencement speech. The students were holding a Palestinian flag and other items as they left. Seinfeld is a vocal supporter of Israel amid the current war with Hamas in Gaza.

Other students and guests in the audience began drowning out the pro-Palestinian chants by chanting “Jerry! Jerry!” as the actor came up on stage. The famous comedian did not directly address the student protests and instead offered “three real keys to life” noting that it was hard work, paying attention, and falling in love, according to WRAL-TV.

Watch the student walk out below:

“Whatever you’re doing, I don’t care if it’s your job, your hobby, a relationship, getting a reservation at M Sushi,” Seinfeld said. “Make an effort. Just pure, stupid, no-real-idea-what-I’m-doing-here effort.”

He added, “Effort always yields a positive value, even if the outcome of the effort is absolute failure of the desired result. This is a rule of life. Just swing the bat and pray is not a bad approach to a lot of things.”

Following the October 7th attack on Israel which led to over 1,000 dead and hundreds captured by Hamas, Seinfeld has been vocally supportive of the Israeli government. Two days after the attack he posted “I Stand With Israel” to his Instagram, according to Fox News Digital.

The walk out occurs as thousands of college activists and students nationwide have begun protesting U.S. financial and military support for Israel amid the Gaza offensive. Republicans and Democrats, including President Joe Biden, have condemned the protests.

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