A circulating video showed several audience members leaving a show by American comedian Menahem Silverstein in Chicago after he opened his set by declaring his support for Israel. The incident coincided with Portuguese artists withdrawing from a festival headlined by Jerry Seinfeld over his pro-Israel positions.
My name is Menahem, and I support Israel
“Laugh Through the Pain” tour draws widespread reaction
Social media accounts circulated the recording as documenting a protest walkout from the show, linking the audience’s departure to opposition to Silverstein’s positions during Israel’s war on Gaza. Silverstein is a co-founder and producer of the “Laugh Through the Pain” tour, a series of Jewish comedy shows launched after the October 7, 2023 attack.
His name appears in the tour’s shows alongside comedian and producer Erez Svar. He describes himself as the project’s founder and one of the performers at weekly shows at the Laugh Factory club. In Portugal, artists and local acts withdrew from the first edition of the “MEO Comedy à la Carte” festival, whose programme is headlined by American comedian Jerry Seinfeld.
Lisbon festival sets dates for Seinfeld shows
Actress and comedian Inês Aires Pereira announced the withdrawal of her show “Namaste,” saying she could not take part in an event featuring someone who “continually defends ideas and actions” that she described as indefensible. She added that “genocide cannot be minimised or treated as something normal,” without naming Seinfeld directly.
The duo Cebola Mol also announced its withdrawal, saying it would celebrate with its audience “justice, freedom and joy on another occasion,” and attached a drawing of the watermelon, used as a symbol of solidarity with Palestinians. The list of withdrawals also included the show “Tributo Pop,” the group Conjunto Coca Monga, comedian Pedro Tochas and visual artist Alexander Farto, known as “Vhils.”
Seinfeld’s pro-Israel positions face repeated protests
Seinfeld visited Israel in December 2023 and met with Israeli families, later continuing to publicly declare his support for the country. He also faced criticism during an event at Duke University in 2025, when he compared the “Free Palestine” movement with the racist Ku Klux Klan and claimed that the slogan concealed anti-Jewish sentiment. The university said at the time that his comments did not represent its views.
Seinfeld had previously faced a protest during Duke University’s graduation ceremony in May 2024, when dozens of students left the stadium and some chanted in support of Palestine as he went up to receive an honorary degree and deliver the commencement address.
His Lisbon show remains listed in the festival’s official programme for its scheduled date on the closing night.
