Legendary comedian Jerry Seinfeld gets major laughs after pro-Palestine protesters in Melbourne interrupt his Australian tour for the third time.
Security measures are ramping up ahead of comedian Jerry Seinfeld’s three shows in Melbourne this weekend.
The comedian has been heckled by anti-Israel protesters during his Sydney performances.
This also follows an attack by vandals on the Melbourne office of federal MP Josh Burns on Wednesday.
Seinfeld was performing before thousands of fans at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena on Saturday evening when, towards the end of the show, a group of pro-Palestine protesters began chanting “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”.
The incident was the third time the Jewish-American comedian has had his Australian tour interrupted by pro-Palestine protesters, and Seinfeld used the experience to get even more laughs as he made jokes about the hecklers’ poor communications strategy.
“I think you need to go back and tell who’s ever running your organization ‘We just gave more money to a Jew’,” the comedian joked, prompting laughs from the audience.
“That cannot be a good plan for you… You’ve got to come up with a better plan!”
WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 05: Jerry Seinfeld performs on stage at the National Night Of Laughter And Song event hosted by David Lynch Foundation at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on June 5, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for David Lynch Foundation)
Seinfeld continued, comparing the protesters decision to interrupt his show with what would happen if he told an AFL umpire to move aside because he was going to do his comedy act.
“Listen, you and I are in the same business. The same business. Our business is to get people to see things that way we see it. The problem is you’re in the wrong place,” Seinfeld began.
“Do you hear how well I’m doing. This is what you want. You want to do well, like I am. Look at the people here to hear me; look at what happened to you.
“Because context is very important for your message. For example, if I was going to do my little comedy show that I do, if I went to an (AFL) game and I told this guy (mimicking a goal umpire); if I said to this guy, you check out, I’m going to do my comedy act here, I would get that same reaction.
“I would get kicked out on my ass, because that’s not where I belong.”
Outside the venue Around a dozen pro-Palestine protesters were seen holding signs reading “F**k Jerry Seinfeld”.
The protesters have targeted the legendary comedian over his support for Israel.
The comedian has previously said he will always support Israel and the Jewish people, and late last year he visited the country to meet with families of victims still be held hostage by Hamas.
Seinfeld responded to the two previous interruptions during his Australian tour by mocking the “tremendous brain power” of the protesters and highlighting the absurdity of their approach.
Jerry Seinfeld was targeted at his recent comedy show because “he is a Jew”, Menzies Research Centre Executive Director Dave Hughes says.
“He is not out here as a representative of the Israeli government or the Israeli Defence Force,” he said.
“He is out here as a comedian to entertain, and the reason he was targeted by activists is because he is a Jew and that is something we can’t tolerate.”
Last Sunday a heckler interrupted Seinfeld’s first Sydney show at the Qudos Bank Arena, shouting at the comedian and chanting the “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
“We have a genius, ladies and gentlemen. He’s solved the Middle East. He’s solved it!” Seinfeld sarcastically said in response.
“It’s the Jewish comedians – that’s who we have to get. They’re the ones doing everything!”
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The former sit-com creator and star was performing at Sydney’s ICC Theatre on Tuesday when his show was interrupted for a second time.
‘You’re doing great. You’re getting them on your side. Can you year it? It’s working,” Seinfeld said as the audience booed the two individuals who had stood up and started shouting while holding a Palestinian flag.
A clearly frustrated Seinfeld continued mocking the hecklers, pointing out that all the protesters were achieving was ruining the night for others in the audience.
“You have strong political feelings, but you don’t know where to say them,” the comedian said in a tone full of scorn.