Multiple Acts Pull Out of Lisbon Comedy Festival Headlined by Jerry Seinfeld Amid Israel‑Gaza Tensions

The inaugural MEO Commedia a La Carte Fest in Lisbon, scheduled for Oct. 29‑Nov. 1, has seen a wave of withdrawals. Performers such as actress Inês Aires Pereira, the duo Cebola Mol, and groups including Tributo Pop and Vhils have removed their shows from the lineup. Some cited concerns over the Israel‑Gaza conflict; others offered no public explanation. The festival’s headliner, comedian Jerry Seinfeld, who has publicly supported Israel, remains listed on the program. Seinfeld’s remarks—calling a “Free Palestine” shoutout “non‑existent” during a Knicks game and describing pro‑Palestinian protests as “free to say you don’t like Jews”—have drawn both praise and criticism. While the festival’s organizers have not responded to inquiries, the departures underscore the growing intersection of politics and performance schedules. Commentator Tim Young dismissed the impact on Seinfeld, labeling the withdrawals a “group of woke people performing for woke people.”