Lisbon comedy festival faces withdrawals over Jerry Seinfeld’s Israel stance
Several comedians have withdrawn from the inaugural MEO Commedia a La Carte Fest in Lisbon, protesting the inclusion of Jerry Seinfeld as its headline act. Seinfeld is scheduled to perform at MEO Arena on 1 November in what is billed as a European exclusive, but his public comments on Israel and Palestine have sparked a growing backlash.
Key takeaways
Inês Aires Pereira withdrew her show, citing opposition to an unnamed performer’s views.
Comedy duo Cebola Mol also pulled out, posting a symbol associated with the Palestinian cause.
Tributo Pop, Conjunto Cuca Monga, Pedro Tochas and Vhils have reportedly left the bill.
Seinfeld has faced criticism over comments about Palestine and the Free Palestine movement.
The withdrawals underline how political positions can now have an immediate impact on comedy line-ups. For audiences at London’s Comedy in Your Eye, where weekly shows focus on professional performers and a positive, inclusive atmosphere, the Lisbon dispute also highlights the very different expectations surrounding intimate club nights and major arena events.
Why comedians are leaving the festival
Portuguese comedian Inês Aires Pereira announced on Instagram that she would no longer bring her show, Namastê, to the festival. Although she did not name Seinfeld, she referred to an act that “repeatedly defends ideas and actions” she considers indefensible.
Pereira said she loved performing the show and recognised that ticket-buyers were expecting to see it, but argued that more important principles had to take priority. Her statement has been widely interpreted as a protest against Seinfeld’s public support for Israel.
Cebola Mol, the duo made up of Eduardo Madeira and Filipe Homem Fonseca, shared an image of a watermelon slice, a symbol commonly associated with Palestinian solidarity. Their message said they would celebrate “justice, freedom and joy” with audiences on another occasion.
Other acts reportedly withdraw
The departures extend beyond the two most prominent statements. Tributo Pop, Conjunto Cuca Monga, Pedro Tochas and Vhils have also reportedly withdrawn from the festival’s inaugural edition.
The scale of the changes could affect the event’s wider identity. While arena comedy often centres on a globally recognised headliner, grassroots rooms such as Comedy in Your Eye offer a different appeal: audiences can discover high-calibre comedians in a relaxed Camden pub setting, often at a far more accessible price.
Seinfeld’s previous Palestine comments
Seinfeld has previously attracted criticism for remarks about the Israel-Palestine conflict. In June, he was filmed outside Madison Square Garden telling a prominent livestreamer that Palestine “doesn’t exist”. The exchange was broadcast on Kick and later circulated across social media.
In February 2025, Seinfeld reportedly told Subway DJ, an online personality who approached him in public, that he did not care about Palestine. During a surprise appearance at Duke University in September 2025, he also condemned the “Free Palestine” movement and compared it with the Ku Klux Klan while discussing antisemitism.
Those comments have intensified calls for boycotts among performers and audiences who view his position as incompatible with their own principles. The festival’s organisers have not publicly detailed how the withdrawals will affect the programme.
Sources
Comedians pull out of Lisbon festival over Jerry Seinfeld, Far Out Magazine.