Comedian hit with antisemitic slurs at two shows in one weekend
Jewish comedian says she was “stunned” by “brazen” abuse as heckler ejected from New York club
Jewish-American comedian Judy Gold has spoken out after being targeted by antisemitic abuse at two separate comedy shows in New York over the same weekend, warning that such hostility is becoming increasingly open.
Gold, 63, said she was left “stunned” when an audience member shouted “You’re a Jew” at her during a performance at New York Comedy Club on Manhattan’s Upper West Side – an area with a long-established Jewish community.
Footage shared online shows Gold responding mid-set, questioning what the heckler had said before addressing the remark directly. The room briefly fell silent before audience members called for the man to be removed.
Staff at the venue intervened and escorted the heckler out, with witnesses reporting he argued with security before eventually being made to leave. Gold later thanked the club for acting quickly, saying incidents like this show that “antisemites aren’t even ashamed anymore”.
The following night, Gold said she encountered a second incident at another Manhattan venue, where an audience member made a comment invoking the stereotype of Jews and money, according to Page Six. She responded from the stage by challenging the trope, but said the individual was not removed.
Reflecting on the weekend, Gold said she had not experienced this level of overt antisemitism in decades, describing the behaviour as unusually “brazen” for contemporary audiences.
The incidents come amid wider concern about rising antisemitism across the United States, including in cultural and public spaces.
The Anti-Defamation League has warned that antisemitism often manifests not only through direct abuse but also through stereotypes and remarks that risk becoming normalised if left unchallenged.
Gold, who has long incorporated Jewish identity and social commentary into her work, said the experiences underscore a growing willingness among some individuals to express antisemitic views openly – even in mainstream entertainment settings.
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