NORFOLK, Va. — Pro-Palestinian protesters caused disruptions during Jerry Seinfeld’s comedy performance at Chrysler Hall in Norfolk on Saturday night. The incident, captured on video by a WTKR attendee, showed a protester being escorted out of the venue after standing up and shouting towards the stage. The protest centered around concerns regarding the situation of children in Gaza.
Protest Details and Response
Videos circulating on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok provided various angles of the protests. Attendees could be heard shouting Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! as a reference to the famous chant from the talk show of the late Jerry Springer. In one clip, Seinfeld is heard apologizing to the audience for the interruptions, while in another, he appeared to make light of the situation through humor.
An individual from the Hampton Roads 4 Gaza Instagram account was heard yelling phrases such as Save the children of Gaza and No more American tax dollars for genocide. The situation escalated as some attendees yelled back at the protester to be quiet, to which he responded by accusing Seinfeld of supporting genocide.
Previous Incidents and Venue Response
This disruption comes on the heels of a similar incident earlier in the month when protesters walked out of Seinfeld’s commencement speech at Duke University. Seinfeld’s expressed support for Israel following attacks by Hamas on October 7 has drawn criticism and led to these protests.
SevenVenues, the organization overseeing Chrysler Hall, released a statement to News 3 expressing disappointment at the disruption and reaffirming their policy to remove disruptors from performances to protect the enjoyment of all patrons.
Conclusion
The incident at Chrysler Hall underscores the ongoing tension surrounding Jerry Seinfeld’s public stance on Israel and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While Seinfeld continues to face criticism and protest, his performances remain popular, attracting sold-out crowds. Stay updated on this developing story through The Local News App for the latest updates.
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