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

Several Portuguese artists have withdrawn from the International Humor Festival in Lisbon, scheduled for October 29 to November 1, due to the headlining act, American comedian Jerry Seinfeld. Seinfeld, a vocal supporter of Israel, has faced backlash for his public statements regarding the ongoing conflict.

One of the withdrawing artists, Portuguese actress Inês Aires Pereira, alluded to Seinfeld's participation as the reason for her withdrawal, stating on social media, "We cannot attribute relative interpretation to genocide or normalize it." While some artists did not specify their reasons, others offered general explanations like "We will celebrate justice, freedom, and joy with you on another occasion."

Seinfeld's pro-Israel stance has drawn criticism previously. Last year, during an event at Duke University, he controversially compared the slogan "Free Palestine" to the Ku Klux Klan, suggesting the KKK was more honest in its racist views. He stated, "Just say you don't like Jews. When you say 'Free Palestine,' you're not admitting what you really think. So, actually, compared to the Ku Klux Klan, I think the Klan is a little better here, because they can go out and say, 'We don't like blacks, we don't like Jews.' Okay, that's honesty."

More recently, Seinfeld engaged with a fan asking him to say "Free Palestine" after an NBA game. He responded directly, "It doesn't even exist," a statement that quickly went viral. These incidents add to a pattern of Seinfeld's public support for Israel since the start of the war, including visits to the country and meetings with families of hostages, demonstrating a willingness to express his views despite potential career repercussions in Hollywood.