Actor and comedian Jerry Seinfeld (The Bee Movie, Seinfeld) caused a stir following remarks he made after appearing at Duke University on Tuesday. According to Yahoo, Seinfeld compared the “Free Palestine” movement to that of the Ku Klux Klan here in the United States. The remarks were reported by The Chronicle, the university’s newspaper, during an event that featured Omer Shem Tov, an Israeli who was held captive by Hamas.

According to Yahoo, Seinfeld stated, “Free Palestine is, to me, just — you’re free to say you don’t like Jews. Just say you don’t like Jews. By saying ‘Free Palestine,’ you’re not admitting what you really think. 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.”

According to Yahoo, which credits Variety for the story, Seinfeld has spoken out in support of Israel since the attack that occurred on Oct. 7, 2023, even visiting the families of hostages that December. His public support has also received backlash. In May 2024, he faced protestors at Duke University when receiving an honorary degree. While some chanted, others left the ceremony in protest. Later that June, pro-Palestinian protestors heckled one of his comedy shows in Sydney, Australia.

“We have a genius, ladies and gentlemen. He solved the Middle East!” Seinfeld jeered to the audience, via Yahoo, in response to chants of “Palestine will be free.” “It’s the Jewish comedians, that’s who we have to get! They’re the ones doing everything.”

According to Yahoo, the event welcomed Shem Tov to speak about his ordeal as one of the hostages kidnapped by Hamas in 2023 at the Nova music festival. While Seinfeld’s appearance was not advertised, he served by providing a “brief introduction to Shem Tov and the event’s moderator, N.C. State Sen Sophia Chitlik, D-Durham,” via The Chronicle.

“Duke does not preview the remarks of speakers who are invited to campus, and the invitation of speakers to campus does not imply any endorsement of their remarks,” a spokesperson for Duke told The Chronicle.

As of today, Yahoo reports Variety reached out to Seinfeld’s team for comment.