Jerry Seinfeld’s week of difficult appearances continues, this time in Virginia.

As soon as Seinfeld took the stage for a stand-up comedy set at Chrysler Hall in Norfolk on Saturday night, a man in the audience jumped up and yelled, “Free Gaza,” TMZ reported. The audience immediately began booing the heckler and chanting “Jerry! Jerry!” as another bystander wrestled the protester into a headlock.

Security escorted the man out of the building, but the show was interrupted by other protesters eight times throughout its 90-minute run.

The controversy around Seinfeld’s views stems from his vocal support of Israel — which he visited following the Oct. 7 attacks — and his wife’s $5,000 donation to a GoFundMe for pro-Israel counterprotesters at UCLA after a late April protest turned violent.

Seinfeld didn’t seem bothered by the interruptions, telling the crowd not to boo the man because he had a right to protest.

“This is exciting. I like this,” the comic said as the original protester was escorted out of the venue. “I like a little Jew hate to spice up the show.”

    • WamGams@lemmy.ca
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      7 months ago

      You are one of the most active users on the site who spends probably more time than anybody challenging Israel supporters.

      But challenging the side you are on when they say clearly abhorrent things?.. Slim pickings.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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        7 months ago

        That doesn’t explain why it’s my job. Unless you’re going to pay me to do otherwise, I think I’ll continue to reply to who I want to reply to.

        • WamGams@lemmy.ca
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          7 months ago

          If it isn’t your job to somehow find a way to speak out against the most milquetoast barely pro-Israel comments made on Lemmy, it’s certainly at least your hobby.

          I just think you could put 1% of your time here towards speaking out against the comments you see that are wrong when they come from your side.

          But, partisanism is like a drug.

          • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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            7 months ago

            Shall I go through your comment history to see what you’ve been unevenly commenting on? Because I’m willing to. I’m guessing I’ll find quite the treasure trove.

            • WamGams@lemmy.ca
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              7 months ago

              Go ahead. I’m mostly on your side of the conflict. Largely because of the work you have put in here. You are respected here and have changed minds.

              I just think if arguing against pro-Israel people the second they step out of line is going to be your hobby, you should be doing the same when you see it coming from your own side.

              • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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                7 months ago

                Whereas I think declaring something to be my hobby when it isn’t that at all is exceedingly rude. So I don’t think I’ll take the advice of someone who is being exceedingly rude to me.

                • WamGams@lemmy.ca
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                  7 months ago

                  If you want to pretend the person who gave you credit for changing their mind is being rude to you, that’s fine.

                  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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                    7 months ago

                    Yes. I do want to “pretend” the person telling me what my hobbies are and berating me for spending time here is being exceedingly rude. You don’t even know what is going on in my life and you assumed instead of asked. Too late now. I’m done here. Go be a jerk to someone else.