Comedy icon Jerry Seinfeld, known for his eponymous hit sitcom and stand-up career spanning decades, delivered a commencement address at Duke University on Sunday, May 12. The 70-year-old Seinfeld alum took the stage at the prestigious institution, where his son Julian is currently a student and his daughter Sascha previously graduated. During his speech, Seinfeld surprised the audience by addressing a controversial aspect of his 2007 animated film, Bee Movie.
Acknowledging Controversial Bee Movie Plot
In a candid moment captured on video by an attendee and shared on TikTok, Seinfeld addressed the graduating seniors, saying, “I made a cartoon movie about bees you may have watched as a child. If any of you felt slightly uncomfortable about the sexual undertones in the relationship between Barry B. Benson and Vanessa, the florist who saves his life, I would like to apologize for that now.” The comedian admitted, “I may not have calibrated that perfectly,” earning laughter from the crowd.
The DreamWorks animated film has been the subject of long-running jokes and memes among fans due to the implied romantic tension between Seinfeld’s bee character, Barry, and Renée Zellweger’s human character, Vanessa. This is not the first time Seinfeld has publicly apologized for the innuendo; he previously addressed the issue during an appearance on The Tonight Show in October 2021, stating, “I apologize for what seems to be a certain uncomfortable, subtle sexual aspect of the Bee Movie. [It] really was not intentional, but after it came out, I realized this is really not appropriate for children. Because the bee seems to have a thing for the girl, and we don’t really want to pursue that as an idea in children’s entertainment.”
Anti-War Protesters Disrupt Speech
Seinfeld’s commencement speech at Duke also garnered attention for reasons unrelated to his Bee Movie apology. According to reports from NBC News and CBS News, anti-war protesters walked out of the ceremony and booed from the audience as the TV star took the podium. The reason for the protest was not immediately clear, but it added an unexpected element of controversy to the otherwise celebratory occasion.
Promoting Directorial Debut “Unfrosted”
In recent weeks, Seinfeld has been making numerous public appearances to promote his latest project, Unfrosted, which marks his feature-film directorial debut. The movie, inspired by Seinfeld’s lifelong fascination with Pop-Tarts, is set in 1963 Battle Creek, Michigan, and follows the intense rivalry between breakfast cereal giants Kellogg’s and Post as they race to create a revolutionary breakfast pastry that will change the face of morning meals forever.
Speaking to PEOPLE at the premiere of Unfrosted on April 30, Seinfeld opened up about the challenges and thrills of taking on the role of director for the first time in his illustrious career. “You don’t want to think aboutthe fact that this is a really big, important job. Like, the pilot never wants to come on the PA system and go, ‘I’m going to try and get this plane in the air.’ You have to be confident,” he emphasized, drawing a humorous analogy to highlight the importance of self-assurance in tackling new endeavors.
Seinfeld’s friend and collaborator, Spike Feresten, a former writer on Seinfeld’s iconic sitcom and still a close confidant, initially suggested turning the true story behind the creation of Pop-Tarts into a movie. “My friend Spike Feresten, who was a writer on my show and is still a good friend of mine, thought we should make a movie out of the real story, which we did,” Seinfeld explained to PEOPLE.
Unfrosted boasts an all-star ensemble cast, including comedy heavyweights Melissa McCarthy, Jim Gaffigan, and Hugh Grant, among others. The film promises to offer an entertaining and enlightening look at the real-life events that led to the creation of the iconic breakfast treat that has become a staple in households across America.
As Jerry Seinfeld continues to make headlines for his public appearances, apologies, and new creative ventures, fans eagerly await the release of Unfrosted and the opportunity to see the legendary comedian take on a new role behind the camera. With his signature wit, humor, and storytelling prowess, Seinfeld’s directorial debut promises to be a delightful addition to his already impressive body of work.
Information Sources: People and Yahoo.
