Several artists have dropped out of a comedy festival in Portugal set to be headlined by Jerry Seinfeld.
The star will top the bill at MEO Commedia a La Carte Fest (Lisbon International Humour Festival) and perform at the MEO Arena in the Portuguese capital on November 1.
But multiple acts have pulled out of the event, including Inês Aires Pereira who has removed her show Namastê from the festival‘s line-up.
Explaining her reasoning for doing so although she did not name Seinfeld directly, she said that “one of the names insistently defends ideas and acts that I consider indefensible.” She added: “We cannot relativise or normalise a genocide.”
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The comedy duo Cebola Mol, made up of Eduardo Madeira and Filipe Homem Fonseca, also confirmed their withdrawal from the festival.
“We will celebrate justice, freedom and joy with you on another occasion,” they added.
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Other acts that have withdrawn from the festival although they have not stated their reasons for doing so, include Tributo Pop (Carolina Deslandes, Tatanka and Bárbara Tinoco), the group Conjunto Cuca Monga, comedian Pedro Tochas and visual artist Vhils (Alexandre Farto).
Seinfeld recently told an influencer that Palestine “doesn’t exist” in a live-streamed clip on social media.
The actor and comedian has been a long-time and vocal supporter of Israel, and last year he compared the Free Palestine movement to the Ku Klux Klan during an unannounced appearance at Duke University.
“Free Palestine is, to me, just – you’re free to say you don’t like Jews. Just say you don’t like Jews,” Seinfeld said.
“By saying ‘Free Palestine’, you’re not admitting what you really think,” he continued. “So it’s actually – compared to the Ku Klux Klan, I’m actually thinking 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.”
On another occasion last year, he said “I don’t care about Palestine” to an influencer at the 50th anniversary special of Saturday Night Live, while in 2024, he clashed with a member of his audience in Sydney who shouted out messages in defence of Palestine. As the heckler was being escorted from the building, Seinfeld said: “We have a genius, ladies and gentlemen. He solved the Middle East!”
Seinfeld, whose remarks were met with cheers from the audience, continued: “It’s the Jewish comedians, that’s who we have to get! They’re the ones doing everything.”
The man continued shouting “Palestine will be free,” as he was being escorted from the audience, to which Seinfeld responded: “Go ahead, keep going! They’re going to start punching you in about three seconds so I would try to get all of your genius out so we can all learn from you.”
“It’s a comedy show, you moron!” he added. “Get out of here.”
Seinfeld and festival organisers are yet to comment publicly on the artists pulling out of the event.
NME has contacted the pro-Palestine BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement for comment.
A United Nations Commission concluded last year that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, and said recently that genocidal acts were continuing through attacks targeting children. Amnesty International also concluded that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
Israel has repeatedly denied committing genocide or war crimes, maintaining that its military campaign is an act of self-defence following the Hamas-led attack on the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, where 344 civilians and 34 security personnel were killed and 44 people were taken hostage. It also rejected the UN findings as “distorted and false” and a “libellous sham”.
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