Lisbon (QNN)- Several Portuguese artists have dropped out of a comedy festival in Lisbon headlined by Jerry Seinfeld, citing their support for Palestinians and implying opposition to Seinfeld’s support for Israel and Gaza genocide.
At least six acts over recent days have canceled their appearances at the MEO Commedia a La Carte Fest, a new international comedy festival in the Portuguese capital. The event from Oct. 29 to Nov. 1 has advertised that it will host Seinfeld’s first live appearance in Portugal.
Though none of the artists who withdrew mentioned Seinfeld by name, some hinted at a boycott against his pro-Israel views.
The Jewish comedian has become one of Hollywood’s most prominent advocates for Israel since the start of the Israei genocide in Gaza in October 2023.
Actress and comedian Inês Aires Pereira announced on Instagram on Saturday that “one of the names” featured at the festival “persistently defends ideas and acts that I consider indefensible,” adding, “We cannot relativize or normalize a genocide.”
The comedy duo Cebola Mol posted a graphic of themselves with a watermelon, widely recognized as a symbol of solidarity with Palestinians. “We will celebrate justice, freedom and joy with you on another occasion,” they said on Instagram.
Spanish actor Javier Bardem has also called for a boycott of Seinfeld in an Instagram story, citing his support for Israel amid the genocide in Palestine.
The festival announced on Friday that performances by the groups Tributo Pop and Conjunto Cuca Monga were also canceled, but did not provide reasons. Two other acts, comedian Pedro Tochas and visual artist Vhils, shared their cancellations on Instagram without further details.
Seinfeld has aligned himself with Israel during its ongoing genocide in Gaza. He visited Israel in December 2023. Since then, he has attracted attention for a series of dismissive remarks toward pro-Palestinian advocates.
During an appearance last year at Duke University, Seinfeld compared pro-Palestinian activists with the Ku Klux Klan, saying, “The Klan is actually a little better here because they can come right out and say, ‘We don’t like Blacks, we don’t like Jews.’ OK, that’s honest.”
Seinfeld also visited Israel in 2018 with his family and participated in activities at an Israeli army recreation camp. Photos circulated at the time showed Seinfeld and family members holding automatic weapons and participating in military-style training and simulations.
Caliber 3, the Israeli firm that runs what Israeli newspaper Haaretz calls an “anti-terror fantasy camp,” boasted about the Seinfeld family’s patronage in a Facebook post.
“Finally we are allowed to tell you!! The legendary Jerry Seinfeld and his family were at Caliber 3 during their visit to Israel last week, they came to us for shooting training with displays of combat, Krav Maga [martial arts], assault dogs and lots of Zionism,” the post – which has since been deleted – said, according to Haaretz.
According to reports, Seinfeld and his wife, Jessica, donated $5,000 in 2024 to support pro-Israel counter-demonstrations at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
Seinfeld has previously visited Israel on private trips. According to Israel’s Ynet news site, he volunteered on a kibbutz as a teenager.
The entertainer began working as a comic after finishing high school, and was catapulted to fame by his eponymous sitcom, which aired from 1989-1998 and garnered an immense and abiding following.
