Duke students walk out of Jerry Seinfeld’s commencement speech

Photo: Noam Galai/GC Images

Duke University students walked out on speaker Jerry Seinfeld on Sunday afternoon. Seinfeld, whose son currently attends Duke and whose daughter is enrolled there, delivered the commencement speech and received an honorary degree. CNN estimates that about 30 graduate students have left the school, while Reuters puts the number in the dozens. The participants in the stands also left. According to NBC News, a group of students waving Palestinian flags could be seen in the alley. Jerry Seinfeld has expressed support for Israel since October 7, and his wife Jessica reportedly donated $5,000 to a GoFundMe for pro-Israel counter-protests at UCLA.

Of those who remained, Seinfeld was greeted with both boos and encouraging chants of “Jerry!” Jerry! » Seinfeld was able to finish his speech, which he said was a defense of privilege. “I say, use your privilege,” he said. “I grew up as a Jewish boy from New York. It’s a privilege if you want to be an actor.

“We understand the depth of feeling in our community and, as we have done all year, we respect the right of everyone at Duke to peacefully express their views, without preventing graduates and their families from celebrating their success,” Duke spokesman Frank Tramble said. A declaration.