Artists Withdraw From Lisbon Festival Over Jerry Seinfeld's Pro-Israel Stance

A number of Portuguese artists have withdrawn from the upcoming MEO Commedia a La Carte Fest in Lisbon, a comedy, theater, and music festival headlined by American comedian Jerry Seinfeld. The withdrawals stem from Seinfeld's vocal support for Israel following the October 7th Hamas attacks.

Actress and comedian Inês Aires Pereira was among the first to announce her withdrawal, stating she refused to "normalize genocide" and that "important principles" outweighed her participation. While not naming Seinfeld directly, her statement clearly referenced his views and actions.

Comedian duo Cebola Mol also pulled out, posting an illustration of a watermelon, a symbol of Palestinian support, alongside their announcement. Other artists, including singers, have also withdrawn, though some have not publicly stated their reasons.

Seinfeld, a prominent supporter of Israel in the entertainment industry, visited Israel in December 2023 and met with families of hostages. He has previously drawn controversy for equating the "Free Palestine" slogan with antisemitism.

Despite the growing number of withdrawals and calls for a boycott, the festival organizers have not yet announced any changes to the lineup or the event's schedule, which is set to take place in late October with Seinfeld scheduled to perform on November 1st.