Jewish comedian Michael Rapaport's shows canceled amid anti-Israel protests

Jewish comedian Michael Rapaport has had at least two of his shows canceled in Wisconsin as the state's flagship university struggles with an encampment supporting Gaza. 

Rapaport, who has been outspoken about his support of Israel since the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks, confirmed the cancellation of his shows in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday and he called the decision "Very very very F***ed Up!"

Rapaport was scheduled to perform at Comedy on State in Madison on Thursday, but the show was canceled. The venue has not responded to Just the News' request for comment about why the show was canceled.

The University of Wisconsin, Madison, has been the site of major protests against Israel. Although police broke up the encampment earlier this week, it has since been rebuilt and school administrators are negotiating with the protesters as of Thursday, according to freelance reporter Liam Beran. 

Rapaport was also scheduled to perform Friday at the St. Croix Casino in Turtle Lake, which is about four hours northwest of the university, but the venue canceled his show, citing "unforeseen circumstances." The St. Croix Casino also did not respond to Just the News' request for comment.

Meanwhile, Aviva Klompas, founder of Boundless Israel, a nonprofit pro-Israel activist group, said that the shows were "cancelled following threats from the pro-terror mob." Just the News could not independently verify whether any threats were issued.

"The mob is screaming about the right to free speech, and here they are trying to silence a comedian just because he is Jewish," she also said.

"Cancelling a Jew is reminiscent of 1939 Nazi Germany. Antisemitism is skyrocketing in America," the group StopAntisemitism said on X.

Follow Madeleine Hubbard on X or Instagram.