Comedian Jerry Seinfeld faces controversy over comments on 'Free Palestine' at Duke

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- Comedian Jerry Seinfeld made a surprise appearance at Duke University on Tuesday and sparked controversy with sharp, critical remarks about the Free Palestine movement.

According to the Duke Chronicle, Seinfeld compared the movement to the rhetoric of the Ku Klux Klan, calling it antisemitic and saying it's "dishonest" about its intentions.

He was introducing Omer Shem Tov, an Israeli hostage who was held by Hamas terrorists for more than 500 days after the Oct. 7 attack.

A Duke University spokesperson responded by saying, "Duke does not preview the remarks of speakers. And the invitation of speakers to campus does not imply any endorsement of their remarks."

Seinfeld was Duke's commencement speaker in May of last year. He has been vocal about his support for Israel, resulting in mixed reactions as he took the podium. A few dozen students walked out of the ceremony, some carrying Palestinian flags while chanting "Free Palestine," which were later replaced with "Jerry, Jerry" chants from the crowd.

"I feel unsafe as a Palestinian American student myself, being on a campus where a call for freedom and justice is misconstrued," Laila Dames told ABC11 on Wednesday. "If the school wants to be a place of diversity and inclusion and equity, they need to speak out and deplore what he said and support all the students."

Noah Jacobs, a Jewish Duke student, told ABC11 that, "Free Palestine is obviously not at all comparable to the Ku Klux Klan. I'm really just honestly nauseated. "Just wanted to bring my voice as a Jewish student to say, really, this is something we care about."

ABC11 has reached out to Chabad at Duke, as well as representatives for Seinfeld.