Jerry Seinfeld Says People Who Say 'free Palestine' Are Worse Than The Ku Klux Klan

Jerry Seinfeld likened nan Free Palestine activity to nan Ku Klux Klan — moreover saying those who usage nan building "Free Palestine" are worse than nan achromatic supremacist group — during a student arena astatine Duke University meant to grant hostages that are being held successful Gaza.

Seinfeld said astatine nan schoolhouse successful Durham, North Carolina, to present a erstwhile Israeli hostage, Omer Shem Tov, erstwhile he made nan remarks, according to nan university's student newspaper, The Duke Chronicle. He reportedly started by saying, successful reference to nan Free Palestine activistic movement, "just opportunity you don’t for illustration Jews."

“By saying 'Free Palestine,' you’re not admitting what you really think. So it’s really — compared to nan Ku Klux Klan, I’m really reasoning nan Klan is really a small amended present because they tin travel correct retired and say, ‘We don’t for illustration Blacks, we don’t for illustration Jews.’ Okay, that’s honest,'" nan Duke Chronicle reported Seinfeld said.

Representatives for Seinfeld did not instantly respond to a petition for remark from NBC News connected Wednesday.

A spokesperson for Duke University said successful a connection that nan schoolhouse does not preview remarks of speakers who are invited to field and an invitation “does not connote immoderate endorsement of their remarks.”

“The student group Chabad astatine Duke was nan lead organizer of Tuesday’s arena and invited nan speakers. Omer Shem Tov was introduced by Jerry Seinfeld, who requested his quality not beryllium announced beforehand fixed Omer Shem Tov’s belief travel during captivity was nan attraction of nan event,” nan spokesperson said.

Mason Herman, a Duke student and president of nan Chabad student group, told NBC News that neither nan statement nor nan assemblage are responsible for remarks made by an invited speaker.

"This arena was highlighting nan truth that location are much than 40 hostages still successful Gaza," Herman said. "To one, raise consciousness of that fact, and, two, to stock their plight while successful captivity. And to stock Omer's story."

Shem Tov was taken hostage from nan Nova euphony show successful Israel connected Oct. 7, 2023, and was not released by Hamas until February during a ceasefire agreement. The 22-year-old was reunited pinch his parents astatine a infirmary pursuing his return to Israel.

Seinfeld has been outspoken successful his support of Israel since nan Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, onslaught that killed 1,200 group and erstwhile astir 250 others were taken hostage. Since then, Israeli forces person killed much than 64,000 Palestinians successful Gaza, according to wellness officials successful nan enclave.

Official judge astir 20 of nan 48 hostages who stay successful Gaza are still alive, and whose destiny remains successful nan balance.

Students astatine Duke protested against Seinfeld’s commencement reside past twelvemonth amid a wave of antiwar demonstrations connected assemblage campuses crossed nan country. Seinfeld was met pinch boos arsenic he took nan shape and galore walked retired of nan ceremony.

Video connected societal media showed a group of students pinch Palestinian flags stepping down an aisle connected nan stadium field.