During his Melbourne show, Jerry Seinfeld humorously addressed a group of anti-Israel hecklers, prompting loud applause and laughter from the audience. Performing on Saturday night at Rod Laver Arena as part of his Australian tour, Seinfeld was interrupted by protesters shouting, "You support genocide," just before he wrapped up his set. The 70-year-old comedy legend, known for his quick wit and vocal support for Israel, responded without missing a beat.
"Oh, you're back. The protesters are back! I've missed you," Seinfeld quipped. "Oh, you're not doing well. It's so hard for you." He then joked about their ineffective protest strategy, saying, "I think you need to go back and tell whoever is running your organization, ‘We just gave more money to a Jew.’ That cannot be a good plan for you. That's not what you want… you gotta come up with a better plan." The audience erupted in laughter and applause as security escorted the protesters out.
A clip of the exchange was posted online and widely shared on social media the following day, showcasing Seinfeld's deft handling of the interruption. Earlier that night, protesters outside the arena held signs with offensive messages such as "F**k Jerry Seinfeld," according to news.com.au.
This was not the first time Seinfeld faced such disruptions during his Australian tour. At a show in Sydney, a heckler chanted, "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free." Seinfeld sarcastically responded, "We have a genius, ladies and gentlemen. He solved the Middle East. He solved it." He went on to mock the idea that Jewish comedians were responsible for global issues, further highlighting the absurdity of the protest in the context of a comedy show.
Similarly, in Adelaide, a protester yelled "Free Palestine" and called Seinfeld a "hack" while waving a Palestinian flag. The audience booed the protester, and Seinfeld retorted, "You have strong political feelings but you don’t know where to say them. You think that ruining the night … it doesn’t affect me … all these people, you’re ruining their night."
Seinfeld has also dealt with anti-Israel protests in the United States. At a show in Virginia in May, he commented, "This is fun. I like this. I think your message is really resonating with the crowd. People seem to be on your side." He joked, "I like it when the Jew-haters spice up the show," as the audience cheered his remarks.
Seinfeld, who is Jewish, has been outspoken in his support for Israel and the Jewish people, especially in the wake of the October 7 massacre. He criticized colleagues for hesitating to condemn Hamas' attacks on Israel and the noticeable rise in antisemitism that followed. Seinfeld declared, "I will always stand with Israel and the Jewish people."
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