An upcoming comedy festival in Lisbon, Portugal is facing cancellations after comedians and performers opt out of the inaugural Lisbon International Humour Festival, which is headlined by Jerry Seinfeld.
Breitbart reports that comedians are boycotting the event over Seinfeld’s public support of Israel. The Washington Times says a group of Portuguese performers withdraw from the festival amid backlash tied to Seinfeld’s stance on Israel during the Gaza war, and quotes at least one performer who argues that they cannot “relativise or normalise a genocide.”
While both outlets link the refusals to Seinfeld’s Israel-related comments, they differ in emphasis: Breitbart focuses on a broader comedian boycott, whereas the Washington Times highlights withdrawals specifically by Portuguese performers and provides direct commentary from a protesting participant. The underlying dispute centers on how audiences and performers interpret Seinfeld’s political messaging and the appropriateness of his appearance as the festival’s leading act.
