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Comedian Jerry Seinfeld turned the tables on anti-Israel hecklers who tried to derail his show in Chicago last Friday, mocking the demonstrators as security removed them from the venue.
A viral video of the confrontation shows activists shouting at Seinfeld at the Chicago Theater, accusing Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza and alleging that American taxpayer money is funding the deaths of thousands of civilians.
“Twenty-two thousand Palestinians who are children today are being killed with our taxpayers’ money, and you’re making jokes!” one woman shouted in clips posted online.
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Comedian Jerry Seinfeld attended the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s ‘Unfrosted’ at the Egyptian Theater Hollywood on April 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
Seinfeld then dances on stage and taunts the protesters with sarcastic remarks, calling himself a “racist” and saying, “It’s genocide.” I’m there. He also joked that he would find out how much the protesters had paid for their tickets and send the money directly to Israel.
As security personnel escorted protesters out of the auditorium, an audience member shouted, “Burn her!” »
The Chicago Anti-War Committee and the Chicago branch of the Palestinian Community Network USA took credit for organizing the disruption, writing on Instagram: “Friday’s disruption sent a clear message: Those who defend Israel’s genocide and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in Gaza and throughout Palestine will be met with protests and will not be welcome on Chicago’s stages unopposed.” »
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Fox News Digital reached out to the Seinfeld team for comment but did not receive a response.
This altercation is the latest in a series of protests targeting the 72-year-old Jewish comedian because of his fervent defense of Israel.
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Comedian and media analyst Tim Young told Fox News Digital that he believes protesters are paying top dollar to hijack comedy shows for viral attention rather than political speech.
“They know that once they start yelling, everyone will have their cameras out, and it’s a very direct interaction and maybe one of the only direct interactions that protesters can have with celebrities and with the Internet,” Young said.
“If you’re in a very intimate environment where everyone is quiet and listening to just one person, you’ll be heard. And so that’s what they’re taking advantage of here.”
Protesters gather outside the Paramount Theater before a benefit performance by comedian Jerry Seinfeld on January 18, 2026, in Aurora, Illinois. Protesters called for a boycott of Seinfeld’s support for Israel amid the Gaza conflict. (Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Young compared the disruptions at Seinfeld shows to protests at political rallies, saying some activists were willing to pay very expensive tickets to confront the comedian.
“It seems like people are going to Jerry Seinfeld shows like they’re going to an anti-Trump rally to protest,” Young said. “They wanted to get Jerry’s attention. They want to, for whatever reason, they’re very, very determined to get him to respond to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”
Young also linked these disruptions to Seinfeld’s past criticism of college performance.
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“That’s why Jerry doesn’t like going to perform on college campuses. And he said he hated performing on college campuses specifically for that reason,” Young said.
“He doesn’t want to get into political matters. He doesn’t want protesters shouting with him. It’s a waste of the public’s time, and he knows it.”
Comedian Jerry Seinfeld performs during the 18th annual Stand Up for Heroes benefit at David Geffen Hall on November 11, 2024, in New York. (Valerie Terranova/Getty Images for the Bob Woodruff Foundation)
In May 2024, dozens of students left the country during Seinfeld’s commencement speech at Duke University, some waving Palestinian flags.
Seinfeld returned to the university in September 2025 to feature freed Israeli hostage Omer Shem Tov at a campus event, where he addressed anti-Israel protests saying, “Free Palestine is, to me, simply: You are free to say you don’t like Jews. Just say you don’t like Jews.
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“By saying ‘Free Palestine,’ you are not admitting what you really think,” he said. “So actually, compared to the Ku Klux Klan, I actually think the Klan is actually a little bit better here because they can clearly say, ‘We don’t like black people, we don’t like Jews.’ Okay, that’s honest.”
Seinfeld also faced controversy overseas last month when several European artists withdrew from the inaugural MEO Commedia a La Carte Fest in Lisbon, Portugal, where he is expected to headline later this year.
The acts did not name Seinfeld directly in their withdrawal statements, but some cited concerns about the Israel-Gaza conflict. One artist said someone involved in the festival had defended ideas she considered indefensible.
Young, who previously rejected efforts to cancel Seinfeld because of his support for Israel, argued that protesters are targeting the billionaire comedian because of his influence and celebrity status.
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“It’s all about control. It’s all about power. And it’s all about the power of the left over these very influential and powerful people,” Young said. “And they don’t have it.”
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