Students Walk Out on Jerry Seinfeld's Duke Commencement Speech

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

A slew of students walked out of Duke University’s commencement ceremony on Sunday to protest Israel’s war in Gaza just as the university’s commencement speaker, Jerry Seinfeld, was set to speak.

Videos posted on social media—but omitted from the university’s livestream—showed students walking out as Duke President Vincent Price introduced the comedian, who received an honorary doctorate. Other students erupted into dual jeers and cheers of “Jerry!”

Link to tweet

Seinfeld’s speech largely steered clear of his recent public scuffles, focusing instead on jokes surrounding the students, AI, and his honorary degree. In a riff on the idea of privilege, though, he made specific mention of his heritage to loud cheers.

“I grew up a Jewish boy from New York,” Seinfeld said. “That is a privilege if you want to be a comedian.”

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/students-walk-jerry-seinfeld-duke-150027458.html

Why, because he's Jewish? This shit is getting weird.

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Don't know the context or tone of what he said

and never having watched Seinfeld or followed his career, he may be referring to or have performed in the so-called Borscht Belt.

[LiberalFighter]

4. I believe they walked out before he started speaking.

[bucolic_frolic]

6. Yeah I didn't read a connection between his point and those walking out

I was trying to understand what he meant by those specific words.

[betsuni]

8. He said that privilege (like being a Duke graduate) these days seems to be the worst thing

you can have and wants to defend it. Use it! Because of the long history of Jewish comedy, Jerry's privilege was being a Jewish comedian: if he messed up a funny story when he was young, his relatives would tell him how the joke should go. We're embarrassed about things we should be proud of and proud of things we should be embarrassed about.

[demosincebirth]

13. Good stand up comedian and no trash or vulgar crap in his performances.

[LiberalFighter]

2. A slew walked out? Other reports were dozens.

Seems a small minority.

I wonder how many companies will check their social media accounts?

[Wonder Why]

9. A slew is an indefinite number. If it's Donnie, then 1 slew 100,000 people. For others it could be dozens.

[Bad Thoughts]

49. "Slew"-- backfiring optics

These attempts at protests are only proving that the critics of Israel/supporters of Hamas' war are in the very minority.

[betsuni]

3. It's a protest about nothing. Seinfeld has nothing to do with it.

Why he stopped performing at colleges.

[Oopsie Daisy]

39. Rebels without a clue? Emoprogs? Delayed teenage angst?

[betsuni]

40. Seinfeld emphasized the importance of a sense of humor, which is apparently right-wing now.

Also being enthusiastic about small things like some really good pens, pizza -- not everything's about big righteous identity-purity politics that you don't know anything about and just follow because it's trendy. Obviously he's under the bus

[Oopsie Daisy]

43. Sigh.

[betsuni]

44. Yes.

[hlthe2b]

5. Yikes.. This does not bode well for other commencements to go smoothly--including Biden's

upcoming Morehouse speech. I saw a very disturbing interview with a couple of students a few days ago. I can only hope they are not representative.

[LiberalFighter]

7. I don't think Biden will have the same issue.

[wnylib]

16. I wish that you were right, but I am certain that

the hate Israel/hate Jews protesters will show up to blame Biden for the war that Hamas initiated.

[LiberalFighter]

19. At Morehouse College? West Point?

[wnylib]

24. Protesters show up anywhere that they can get attention.

Since the anti Israel protesters now blame the US for defending Israel against terrorism, anything associated with the US military will draw their attention.

There will be intense security because of the President's presence, but the anti Israel protesters will get as near and noisy as they can.

[LeftInTX]

37. He'll be OK at West Point. The military disciplines protesters. It's considered insubordination.

They're anticipating protests at Morehouse.

[jimfields33]

57. West Point. They will not get up to leave. No way!

However, a few Morehouse students said they may protest. We will have to wait and see. Hopefully it won’t happen.

[Dorian Gray]

55. Biden will be fine

And if kids protest…. He’ll deal with it and move on.

These protests are losing oxygen

[Dorian Gray]

54. The commencement went smoothly

A handful of self important kids walked out. They were booed. Then the ceremony went on like normal.

[SoFlaBro]

10. Now the "Free Palestine" Hamas-lovers are fucking protesting Jews and anyone sympathetic to Jews. Sick shit.

[wnylib]

18. They hate Jews more than they love Palestinians.

If they cared about Palestinians, they would protest Hamas using 16 year old child soldiers. They would protest Hamas using even younger children as couriers in the front lines of war and having them carry explosives between Hamas encampments. They would protest Hamas and its affiliated terror groups that kill Palestinians who try to work for peace, calling them traitors and collaborators. They would protest the fact that millions of dollars given to Palestine for decades to improve the quality of life for Palestinians was instead used for building underground fighting networks that expose civilians on the surface to death during a war that they started.

"Free Palestine" would have a more genuine meaning if it meant to free Palestinians from terrorist rule.

[betsuni]

21. [phone]

[SoFlaBro]

62. Israelis have said that when Hamas loves their children more than they hate Israel, the fucking conflict will end.

[SoFlaBro]

38. Name another conflict apparently showcasing these tactics in which you are interested and sympathetic to.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

11. "Why, because he's Jewish?" NO, BECAUSE HIS WIFE FUNDS PRO-ISRAEL STATE COUNTERPROTESTORS AND THE TWO OF THEM

Last edited Sun May 12, 2024, 09:59 PM - Edit history (1)

visited a paramilitary camp geared at "military tourism" in the West Bank a few years ago, where people can shoot at "terrorist" cutouts.

edited to post in all caps so people might see it lol

https://www.thedailybeast.com/jessica-seinfeld-and-bill-ackman-fund-pro-israel-counterprotests-at-ucla

Jessica Seinfeld, cookbook author and wife to comedian Jerry Seinfeld, is funding a pro-Israel counterprotest at UCLA—where violence broke out Tuesday night after a mob attacked demonstrators inside a pro-Palestine encampment.

A GoFundMe for the effort, which Seinfeld promoted in an Instagram story this week after contributing at least $5,000, has since made the majority of its donations anonymous. The fundraising page has raised more than $93,000 as of Wednesday and also changed its organizer name and description since launching over the weekend.

The Daily Beast left messages for reps for the Seinfelds.

“I just gave to this GoFundMe to support more allies like yesterday’s at UCLA,” Seinfeld wrote this week. “More cities are being planned so please give what you can. Donations are annonymous [sic]. We will continue to share our light and love, as proud American Jews.”

[Prairie Gates]

22. Don't interrupt OP's speculations

They're upping the general HARRRUMPH factor of the board.

[mucifer]

28. Yes, the students have their right to their opinion by walking out.

[Sky Jewels]

35. Yeah, the Seinfeld's are awful.

Fuck them.

I used to be a big fan.

[betsuni]

51. Why are they awful?

[Cuthbert Allgood]

66. Did you not read post 11 that started this subthread?

[Mountainguy]

12. Gee, I wonder what their problem with Jerry Seinfeld is....

I bet they are upset that he beat up that old bag over that chocolate babka.

[bahboo]

15. well...that really was reprehensible...

then again....a chocolate babka.....

[BigmanPigman]

23. Maybe there was a hair in it.

[JoseBalow]

25. It was the Marble Rye, not the Babka. And he didn't beat her up...

[Mountainguy]

29. Oops

That's right, the babka was a different episode.

[Patton French]

14. Why?

Did he say something offensive?

[debm55]

30. Because he is a Jew

[Sky Jewels]

32. No, it's because he has been a very vocal supporter

of Israel’s right wing fascist government and apartheid policies.

If your thesis was right, then people like Bernie Sanders would also get pushback from Gen Z. But Bernie has criticized Netanyahu’s genocide, so he is regarded very differently than Seinfeld.

But of course you know that and still choose to pretend it’s an antisemitic protest.

[jimfields33]

58. A Jewish person supporting Israel. Well that's unusual. /sarc.

Of course Jewish people support Israel.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

67. Do they support the fascist right-wing bent of the current government?

All of them support that? Because it seems clear that Seinfeld does. And that's kind of gross. And, frankly, something that DU would be supporting protests about. If the students walked out on a speaker that supported Hungary's little fascist, I'm sure we would all applaud it. But when it is Israel's fascist, it's all of a sudden racism.

[Patton French]

70. Apparently NT

[BannonsLiver]

52. No they walked out because they hate Jews

[Cuthbert Allgood]

68. I would assume they hate Seinfeld supporting right-wing asshole fascists.

Which is something I would think liberals would support.

[Patton French]

71. So it seems. NT

[former9thward]

17. Very few walked out.

I hope they keep going. Maybe all the way to Gaza.

[FrenchCitizen]

20. Wonder how long this will go on for.

Apologies if this counts as thread hijacking, I'm unable to post OPs for the time being.

During my breaks at work, I scroll through Liberal/Democratic/Leftist Twitter circles just to read whatever I see. As one can imagine, Israel/Palestine has been dominating a lot of the conversations for half a year now.

The "Free Palestine" movement/boycotts aren't new; they've been a thing for years now, albeit in more obscure forums and corners of social media. I can't remember the name of it now since it's been a few years since I last visited, but there was a forum primarily for gamers that sometimes delved into the Israel/Palestine conflict.

On Twitter, there are these "lists" that go around which identify celebrities and companies that supposedly have "Zionist/Israeli" ties. Some entries might have legitimate roots, others (I would argue probably most) are based on dubious sources and information. I'm not going to accuse every person who perpetuates these lists as "anti-Semitic," though many people just add Jewish celebrities to the list based on their biased, preconceived notions. Jerry has been part of the lists that are being circulated, among others. These lists encourage people to boycott, protest, and conduct strikes on certain days.

I imagine many countries, primarily Western, are going to be dealing with these (on a small and sparse degree, most likely) incidents for a while. At least until the conflict comes to an end. I support innocent people who are trapped in both Palestine and Israel. I do not want this conflict to bleed into other countries.

[liberalmediaaddict]

26. Guessing it will slow down in June

At least regarding the campus protests.
After the semester and commencement ceremonies end many students take the summer off.

[RandySF]

27. We even anticipate protests at my son's high school commencement.

[Skittles]

31. ridiculous

childish behavior

[Sky Jewels]

33. Jerry Seinfeld has turned into

a cranky, smug, arrogant, insufferable right wing asshole who supports Israel’s carnage and colonialism and apartheid policies. He has also been complaining that “the far left” is killing comedy because now you can’t punch down without pushback. Fuck him.

[betsuni]

34. How does he "punch down"? How is he "right wing"? Any examples?

Last edited Mon May 13, 2024, 06:43 AM - Edit history (2)

No, obviously no examples because it isn't true.

[Dorian Gray]

56. Right wing?

Punch down?

I’ll accept that he’s an old crank. Sure. Kids these days and all that.

The rest is nonsense bc he supports a Jewish state and you hate that.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

69. Do you support Bibi? You are fine with him?

Because Seinfeld seems to be at a very intense and gross level.

Frankly, I don't like fascists and I am amazed at the support for one on a liberal discussion board.

[Dorian Gray]

72. Netanyahu needs to go

I don't support him.

Seinfeld supports Jews here and in Israel. He met with families of hostages after October 7th, in Israel. He is unapologetically pro-Jewish. So what?

His wife supported counter protestors at UCLA. Some of them got way out of hand and that is terribly unfortunate. The ones who physically attacked or set off fireworks against the anti-Israeli protestors should face consequences for that, sure.

Where is there any proof he supports Bibi Netanyahu?

[live love laugh]

59. Untrue.

[Sympthsical]

41. 30 students out of 7,000

Seems like the media are desperate to make a handful of protesters at commencements seem far, far more significant than they actually are.

For comparison, there are three times as many people in Duke University's chess club. There were probably more people who left to go to the bathroom during the ceremony.

But hey, headlines.

[betsuni]

42. How many people usually make a production of walking out at a commencement speech?

Those not going to pee, that is.

[Sympthsical]

46. Even so

When a toddler is doing their "Look at me!" tantrum in middle of the toy aisle, the best solution is usually not to indulge.

This tiny group that is not even slightly representative of their fellow students very much want all the attention. Add to that those that agree with them want to make it seem that the protest movement is much larger and more significant than it actually is. They try to make it seem mainstream instead of the hodgepodge of radicals, sociology majors, and antisemites that it is.

I admit I get caught up in it, too. Antisemitism is just one of those things for me. As soon as I see it - particularly apologias and excuses for it - it's go time. I think what bothers me more is the fact I'm having a reckoning about how I identify politically - I am not on the same side of these people in any sense. And how I see a double standard and permissiveness towards bigotry on campuses based on Marxist oppression ideology. "You can't be racist here, but you can totally be racist there!" (Not being racist anywhere just kind of isn't a thing with these people anymore). If this is where my "team" is, I'm not sure I want to be on that team anymore. (I'm not talking Democrat vs. Republican, rather self-identifying as Left. Still voting Democratic no matter what).

So I've been paying a ton of attention to this. But given the actual tangible numbers of participants, maybe we are paying a mite too much attention to the toddler in the toy aisle. I'll still throw down over antisemitism wherever it manifests, but this stuff? Eh.

Something I'm thinking about, at least.

[betsuni]

47. Does seem to be a sociology majors tantrum in the middle of the toy aisle thing.

Where are the history majors? I guess they gave up. Don't blame them.

[Sympthsical]

48. As someone with a history degree

It's painful to listen to these people. Where is all the tuition going? How are people graduating college without knowing anything?

But then I'm in college again now, and I honestly don't believe half my professors could think their way out of a paper bag. The standards seem seriously low. I mentioned on DU a year or so ago, but when my constitutional law professor started ranting, tossing us blog links to extremely left radicals, and calling Clarence Thomas an "oreo" it was like, "Oh. He thinks his classroom is Twitter." Even if I agree with him that Thomas is a piece of shit - which I do - the man needs to not be near a classroom.

So I think the question kind of answers itself. Non-ideological educated people are tapping out from the crazy.

[betsuni]

50. In the Olden Days of the '80s when I was in college I didn't know any of my professor's personal beliefs no

matter how many classes I took with them. Unless they were old and nutty. It wasn't their job to influence students. I guess that's really changed.

[Blue Owl]

61. Well aren't they special

[bdamomma]

45. The whole

thing is weird and disgusting propaganda being fed to these students.

[Dorian Gray]

53. Meh

It was like 25 kids and they were booed by the rest.

People are sick of their shit.

[John Shaft]

60. Wonder if he still digs high school girls?

Larry David was the real talent behind his show. Much funnier as well.

[SocialDemocrat61]

63. He's just another rich, privileged, white male TV celebrity

Same as Maher. Same as Stewart. Same as Moore. Same as Trump.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

64. So that allows a handful idiots to interrupt a college graduation

Grow up please.

[SocialDemocrat61]

65. My comment was about Seinfeld

Not the students.