Jerry Seinfeld faced a protest during his speech at Duke University in May 2024, where he was receiving an honorary degree. The protest stemmed from his vocal support for Israel amid the ongoing Gaza conflict. Dozens of students walked out during his speech, chanting “Free, free Palestine,” while others in the crowd jeered as they left. Seinfeld, maintaining his composure, waited for the protesters to exit before addressing the audience with a light-hearted comment, saying, “Thank you. Oh my God, what a beautiful day.”

In his speech, Seinfeld offered life advice and humor, joking, “A lot of you are thinking, ‘I can’t believe they invited this guy.’ Too late,” and pledged to defend the concept of privilege, referencing his own upbringing as a Jewish boy from New York. Seinfeld has been a vocal supporter of Israel since the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2024, and throughout the ongoing Gaza conflict.

Duke University officials acknowledged the protests, emphasizing the importance of respecting everyone’s right to express their views peacefully while ensuring the ceremony continued without disruption for graduates and their families.