Jerry Seinfeld returns opposition to radical anti-Israel rioters after stunt backfires in Chicago

A viral video shows Jerry Seinfeld dancing and taunting anti-Israel protesters at a Chicago theater as security escorts the protesters from the venue.

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Comedian Jerry Seinfeld turned on anti-Israel protesters who tried to derail his performance in Chicago last Friday, mocking the protesters as they were escorted out of the venue by security.

Viral video of the confrontation shows activists in a Chicago theater shouting at Seinfeld, accusing Israel of committing "genocide" in Gaza and claiming that US taxpayer dollars are funding the deaths of thousands of civilians.

Twenty-two thousand Palestinians who are now children are being killed with our taxpayers' money and you are kidding! a woman screamed in clips posted online.

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Seinfeld then dances on stage and mocks the protesters with sarcastic remarks, calling himself a "racist" and saying, "This is genocide. I'm in on it." He also joked that he would find out how much the protesters paid for their tickets and send the money directly to Israel.

As security personnel escorted the demonstrators out of the hall, one member of the audience yelled, "Screw him!"

The Chicago Anti-War Committee and the Chicago chapter of the Palestinian Community Network USA have taken 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 confronted. Protest and you will not be welcome on the stage in Chicago without dissent."

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The clash is the latest in a string of protests targeting the 72-year-old Jewish comedian for his staunch defense of Israel.

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"They know that when they start yelling, they're going to pull out all the cameras, and it's a very direct interaction, and maybe one of the only direct interactions protesters have with celebrities and the Internet," Young said.

"If you're in a very intimate environment where everyone is quiet and listening to one person, your voice will be heard. And so, that's what they benefit from here."

Young compared disruptions at Seinfeld shows to protests at political rallies, arguing that some activists are willing to pay a high price to confront the comedian.

"People seem to be going to Jerry Seinfeld shows like they're going to a Trump rally," Young said. “They wanted to get Jerry's attention. "They want, for some reason, to be very, very determined to get him to respond to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."

Young also linked these disruptions to Seinfeld's past criticisms of performance in universities.

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"That's why Jerry doesn't like to go and perform on college campuses, and he said he hates performing on college campuses especially for that reason."

He does not want to get involved in political issues. He doesn't want protesters yelling at him. It's a waste of the rest of the audience's time and he knows it."

In May 2024, dozens of students walked out during Seinfeld's speech at Duke University, some holding Palestinian flags.

Seinfeld returned to campus in September 2025 to introduce freed Israeli hostage Omar Shem Tov at a campus event, where he addressed anti-Israel protests, saying, "A free Palestine to me is just — you're free to say you don't like Jews." Just say you don't like Jews."

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"By saying 'free Palestine,' you're not admitting what you really think," he said. So, actually—compared to the Ku Klux Klan, I actually think the Klan is a little bit better here because they can come and say, "We don't like black people, we don't like Jews." "Well, it's honest."

Seinfeld also faced controversy overseas last month when several European acts pulled out of the inaugural MEO Commedia a La Carte Fest in Lisbon, Portugal, where he is set to headline later this year.

These actions were not directly mentioned in Seinfeld's withdrawal statements, but some cited concerns about the Israeli-Gaza conflict. One presenter said that someone involved in Steinfest defended ideas they considered indefensible.

Young, who previously rejected efforts to cancel Seinfeld because of his support for Israel, argued that protesters were targeting the billionaire comedian because of his influence and celebrity status.

"It's all about control. It's all about power. And it's all about the left having power over these very influential and powerful people," Young said. "And they don't have it."

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