Jerry Seinfeld apologized for the “sexual undertones” of Bee Movie during his speech at Duke University on Sunday.
The 70-year-old actor’s speech made international headlines after it was hit by an anti-Israel protest, but he refused to get drawn into the political quagmire and instead used comedy to give the graduates a life lesson.
Seinfeld, who voices Barry the Bee in the 2007 animated film, said the film was “not perfectly calibrated” but added that he “wouldn’t change the movie” in a light-hearted comment during the animated film. North Carolina university campus.
“I made a cartoon about bees that you might have seen as a kid,” he told graduates at Wallace Wade Stadium after dozens of pro-Palestinian students walked out in protest of his actions.
“If any of you are at all uncomfortable with the sexual undertones in the relationship between Barry the bee and Vanessa the florist who saves his life, I would like to apologize now.”
Dozens of pro-Palestinian students walked out on Sunday in protest against the comedian during the speech on a college campus in North Carolina
Jerry Seinfeld apologized for ‘sexual undertones’ in Bee Movie during his speech at Duke University, which was hit by an anti-Israel strike
“Maybe I didn’t calibrate that perfectly. But I wouldn’t change a thing, and this is probably the biggest part I want to tell you today about humor.”
Bee Movie received mixed reviews from critics for the romantic relationship between the human character, played by Renée Zellweger, and Seinfeld’s cartoon insect, despite being a family film.
Seinfeld previously jokingly apologized for the film’s “awkward sexual aspect,” saying it was “really not suitable for children.”
It comes after fans expressed fears for Seinfeld’s health after seeing him shaking in an interview recorded in late March.
In his Duke speech, he then lectured students on the importance of a sense of humor.
“I’m going to try to reach a few generations here to tell you the most important thing I know for sure about life,” Seinfeld said.
‘I’m 70, I’m done, you’re just starting out, I just want to help you. The slightly awkward sense of awkward humor is okay. It’s not something you need to fix.
‘I have great admiration for the ambitions of your generation to create a more just and inclusive society.
“I also love that you care so much about not hurting other people’s feelings, and in one way we all do every second of every day.
‘It’s wonderful to want to fix those things. But in all caps, but what I have to tell you as a comedian: don’t lose your sense of humor… not enough of life makes sense for you to survive without humor.”
The 70-year-old Jewish comedian, who voices Barry the Bee in the 2007 animated film, said the film was “not perfectly calibrated” but added that he “wouldn’t change the movie” in a light-hearted comment on the university campus of North Carolina.
Seinfeld and his wife Jessica have three children: Sascha, 23, Julian, 21, and Shepherd, 18. Sascha is a Duke alum while Julian is still in college.
Seinfeld has been a staunch supporter of Israel, visiting the country to meet hostage families in the aftermath of the October 7 attack, when Hamas invaded and killed 1,200 people, while another 252 were kidnapped.
He has maintained his support for Israel as the country retaliated with an intense bombardment of Gaza, killing at least 36,000 Palestinians so far.
Seinfeld was greeted with a mixture of cheers and boos when he was introduced before students carrying flags and chanting “free, free Palestine” marched out of Wallace Wade Stadium on Sunday.
Other graduates shouted “Jerry!” Jerry!’ while the actor received an honorary doctorate and delivered his speech without any further major interruptions.
The comedian and his wife Jessica Sklar are national chairs of the Duke Parents Committee, while their daughter Sascha, 23, graduated from Duke and their middle son Julian, 21, is a current student at the university.
Despite the walkouts as his speech kicked off, Seinfeld, who has been described as “unusually vocal” in his support for Jews in Israel, avoided addressing the issue at the center of the protests during his speech.
The comedian was greeted with a mix of cheers and boos when he was introduced at the ceremony
Pro-Palestinian protesters raise flags during the University of Michigan’s spring commencement ceremony
At one point he mentioned his Jewish heritage, and his comments were met with applause from the crowd.
‘Privilege is a word that has taken quite a beating lately. Privilege seems like the worst thing you can have these days. “I’d like to take a moment to defend it,” he said.
“Again, a lot of you are thinking, ‘I can’t believe they invited this guy.’ Too late. I say: use your privilege.
“I grew up as a Jewish boy from New York, which is a privilege if you want to be a comedian,” he joked.
Concluding his point, he told the students to take advantage of the education they had “earned”: “You went to Duke, that is an incredible privilege.”
