Stand-Up Comedian Removed From Ben-Gurion University Stage Over Jokes About Arabs

Ben-Gurion University in Beersheba issued an apology after comedian Stav Farhi was removed from the stage during an event attended by faculty members and their children nearing IDF enlistment. The incident occurred on Tuesday, following a lecture by massacre survivor Tomer Chaba, whose brother Noam Chaba was killed in Gaza in February 2024. Farhi began his stand-up routine with jokes about Arabs, which prompted some attendees to protest and demand his removal within minutes.

Farhi recounted that he was told there were no taboo topics before the show, but after making jokes about Arabs and his own post-traumatic stress from serving on October 7, a member of the audience shouted accusations of racism and disrupted the performance. Security and police were eventually called, and Farhi was forced off stage amid tears and confusion.

The university’s Vice President of Human Resources sent an apology email to participants, condemning the offensive remarks without explicitly mentioning Arabs. She emphasized that the university does not tolerate such expressions and announced that the university severed ties with Farhi and lodged complaints with his agency. The university stated it had no prior indication of Farhi’s controversial material but noted his history of racially charged humor on social media.

Farhi responded by accusing the university of limiting free speech, claiming his comedy aimed to lighten the mood rather than divide people. He expressed frustration over being publicly humiliated despite being invited to perform. The episode highlights tensions around freedom of expression and sensitivity to ethnic issues within Israeli academic and social settings.