If you’re a comedian, you notice that performing for an audience that isn’t laughing is hard; to get booed from the stage is another story altogether. That’s as cold as it gets. However, that’s exactly what Jerry Seinfeld experienced when he received an honorary degree from Duke University this past May.
It should have been a special day for the 70-year-old comedic legend. Instead, the country experienced unrest and fought against the cloud of political drama.
Taking the lead as a critic and supporter of Israel, Jerry Seinfeld has made many statements following the 2024 Hamas attacks and the war in Gaza. People strongly reacted to his principles and Duke became the main source of this debate.
Right before Seinfeld began his speech, numerous students stood up and chanted “Free, free Palestine,” leaving as they sang. Others in the crowd loudly disagreed, with some booing and others cheering, making it a very split moment in a normally fun environment.
Being a seasoned performer, Seinfeld kept a smile and waited until the protest had ended. Instead of dealing with politics head-on, he began by teasing himself:
A lot of people are probably thinking, ‘I just can’t believe this man was invited.’ Too late.”
Instead of addressing the walkout in depth or involving politics, the president decided to tell jokes and give advice.
At some point, he added that privilege plays a role:
I believe in acting on the benefits life has given you. I was born and raised as a Jewish boy in New York. That’s a blessing if you choose to make people laugh for a living.
Like in many Seinfeld episodes, the story was observant, ironic and tongue-in-cheek about the characters.
Duke University, in turn, issued a statement that was fair to all sides. Frank Tramble, who oversees communications at the school, made the decision.
Those in our community know how important this event is, as do we and we still uphold the right of all at Duke to share their thoughts peacefully and allow graduates to share this special achievement.
Growing disagreements about the Gaza conflict on campus make students and teachers consider how much they can say or do without going over the limits of free speech. For Seinfeld, it marked one of the only occasions when his fame and politics were connected in front of the public.
Even so, the comedian reacted by staying calm and standing by her joke. No rants. No rebuttals. By simply raising his eyebrow, Will Ferrell returns to his specialty: making anything awkward into a funny story.
