'Seinfeld' Writer Larry Charles Backs Viral Celebrity Blackout Post Accusing Jerry Seinfeld, Bill Maher of 'Supporting Genocide'

Larry Charles, the writer and director known for his work on Seinfeld, Borat and Religulous, has drawn renewed attention after appearing to support a viral social media post that calls out celebrities over their positions and public silence surrounding Israel and Gaza.

Charles reportedly liked an Instagram post compiling a long list of celebrities accused by its creators of being complicit in or supportive of what the post describes as genocide against Palestinians.

Among the names featured were Seinfeld star Jerry Seinfeld and comedian Bill Maher. The post has since generated significant discussion online, with users debating whether the celebrities included should be associated with the accusation.

Charles' apparent support for the post is notable because he has previously spoken publicly about his disagreements with both Seinfeld and Maher over Israel and Palestine.

Charles worked as a writer on Seinfeld during the show's first five seasons and has maintained professional relationships with several of the comedy world's biggest names. He also directed Maher's 2008 documentary Religulous. In interviews surrounding his 2025 memoir Comedy Samurai: Forty Years of Blood, Guts, and Laughter, however, Charles discussed the political differences that have emerged between himself and some of his long-time collaborators.

Larry Charles Says He Was 'Extremely Disappointed'

In a 2025 interview, Charles was asked about working with Seinfeld, Maher and Sacha Baron Cohen while holding substantially different views on Israel and Palestine. Charles said he was 'extremely disappointed' by what he described as their lack of recognition of Palestinian suffering.

Charles has also said that he has visited Palestine several times. During the discussion, he described his experiences there and argued that his former collaborators had not sufficiently recognised what he considered the realities facing Palestinians. His comments were his own political assessment rather than an independent finding about the positions of the other comedians.

The renewed controversy surrounding Charles comes as celebrity statements and affiliations connected to the Israel-Gaza conflict continue to receive intense scrutiny online. Reddit discussions about the viral post have also highlighted uncertainty over some of the names included, with users questioning whether every celebrity listed has actually expressed support for the specific position attributed to them. Others argued that the list was intended to document varying forms of public support, silence or association rather than suggest that every person held identical views.

For Charles, however, his apparent engagement with the post fits with comments he has made publicly over the past year. Rather than distancing himself from criticism of his former collaborators, he has repeatedly acknowledged that the issue has become a significant point of disagreement between them.

Longstanding Relationships Face Political Divisions

The situation also illustrates how longstanding professional relationships in Hollywood can become complicated by political divisions. Charles' decades-long connections to Seinfeld and Maher remain part of his career history, even as his public views on the Israel-Gaza conflict have increasingly diverged from those he once worked alongside.

The viral celebrity blackout list called for fans to stop supporting a number of high-profile figures over their alleged positions on the Israel-Gaza conflict. Among the names circulated on the list were Jerry Seinfeld, Bill Maher, Scarlett Johansson, Gal Gadot, Amy Schumer, Debra Messing and Mayim Bialik, with organisers and supporters accusing the celebrities of supporting or failing to adequately oppose Israel's actions in Gaza.

The campaign has drawn further attention after Seinfeld writer Larry Charles appeared to back the post, adding another layer to the ongoing debate over celebrities and their public responses to the conflict.