BREAKING: Jerry Seinfeld and Tyrus Foil Armed Robbery in Times Square Using Nothing but Sarcasm and a Folding Chair
By: The Comedy Dispatch | 1,500 Words
In what can only be described as a real-life scene out of an action-comedy blockbuster, comedian Jerry Seinfeld and former wrestler and political commentator Tyrus became the most unlikely heroes in New York City Monday afternoon when they foiled an attempted armed robbery in the middle of a crowded diner in Times Square—armed with nothing more than a folding chair and a healthy dose of sarcasm.
The incident, which has already gone viral on social media and is being called “the funniest takedown in NYC history,” occurred during a promotional shoot for Seinfeld and Tyrus’s new live comedy tour, “Truth Hurts: Laugh Anyway.”
According to witnesses and NYPD reports, a masked assailant stormed into the iconic Manhattan diner “Eleanor’s,” just as cameras were rolling and the duo was sharing a plate of pastrami and jokes. What followed was a surreal, high-stakes moment that blurred the line between scripted comedy and genuine heroism.
The Robbery That Interrupted Lunch
The diner was packed—producers, camera operators, tourists, and a few lucky fans who had stumbled into what they thought would be a lighthearted shoot. According to multiple onlookers, the tension in the room skyrocketed the moment a masked man in a black hoodie burst through the front door, brandishing a silver handgun.
“He was yelling, waving the gun around, telling everyone to get down,” said Rachel Levin, a waitress who’d just delivered coffee to Seinfeld moments earlier. “It was terrifying. But then Jerry… Jerry stood up and said the most Jerry thing ever.”
Indeed, instead of ducking under the table, the 70-year-old comedy legend rose calmly from his booth, coffee cup still in hand, and looked the gunman straight in the eye.
“Really? A gun? In this economy?” he said dryly, causing several patrons to laugh through their panic.
That laugh may have been the first crack in the gunman’s nerve.
Enter: Tyrus, The Folding-Chair Avenger
As the robber hesitated, Tyrus, who had been seated across from Seinfeld in a tailored blazer and signature scowl, made his move. According to one of the producers on set, Tyrus didn’t hesitate for a second.
“He flipped his chair into the air like he was in the Royal Rumble, caught it mid-air, and charged. It was like watching a superhero in action—if that superhero used a metal chair instead of a cape.”
Security footage later confirmed the account. In one fluid motion, Tyrus launched himself across the room and used the folding chair to disarm the robber, sending the weapon skidding across the tile floor. A brief struggle ensued, ending in Tyrus executing a picture-perfect body slam—right through two tables and a promotional cutout of George Costanza.
Police arrived moments later to find the suspect unconscious, Tyrus calmly adjusting his tie, and Jerry Seinfeld sipping his coffee as if nothing had happened.
“I’ve seen hecklers, I’ve seen critics… but this?” Jerry told reporters. “This guy didn’t even ask for an autograph first.”
NYPD, Citizens Applaud the Duo
NYPD Commissioner Isabel Ruiz held a brief press conference later that afternoon, confirming the suspect—a 34-year-old career criminal with priors for armed robbery—was taken into custody and charged with attempted robbery and assault.
“What Jerry Seinfeld and Tyrus did today wasn’t just brave—it was extraordinary,” Ruiz said. “They kept their cool, deescalated the situation, and stopped a dangerous criminal in his tracks. And somehow, they did it while cracking jokes.”
Mayor Eric Adams also chimed in on X (formerly Twitter), writing:
“Only in NYC do you stop a robbery with a joke and a chair. Bravo, @JerrySeinfeld and @PlanetTyrus. You’ve earned your pastrami.”
The Internet Can’t Get Enough
Within minutes of the news breaking, hashtags like #TyrusTheChairman, #JerryDontMiss, and #StandUpAndTakeDown began trending on every major social media platform. Millions of views flooded across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube as bystander footage spread like wildfire.
One viral TikTok showed a slow-motion replay of Tyrus’s chair flip to the tune of the Curb Your Enthusiasm theme. Another clip featured Jerry’s deadpan post-incident one-liner:
“You know, I thought the service here was slow before.”
That quip alone was turned into a dozen memes within an hour—one even photoshopping Jerry into an Avengers poster titled: “End of the Check.”
From Tour Promotion to Legend Status
The irony, of course, is that the entire day was meant to promote a comedy tour. The timing of the attempted robbery—smack in the middle of a bit about how “nothing ever surprises New Yorkers anymore”—was so surreal that some initially thought the whole thing was a prank.
But it wasn’t. It was real. And now, their upcoming tour has taken on a life of its own.
Tyrus later tweeted:
“Didn’t plan on going full WWE today, but hey—New York doesn’t play. Glad everyone’s safe. Jerry owes me a sandwich.”
The duo’s tour manager, Leslie Grant, told reporters they’re “scrambling to add more tour dates” now that demand has skyrocketed.
“We were expecting strong sales, sure. But after this? We’ve got venues begging to host them. They’re America’s new favorite buddy-cop comedy team.”
A Friendship Forged in Chaos
Tyrus and Seinfeld may come from wildly different worlds—one a Fox News commentator and ex-wrestler, the other a comedy icon of observational minimalism—but together, they proved something profound: when comedy and courage combine, anything can happen.
In a short joint statement released hours later, the pair wrote:
“We just did what anyone would do: one of us told a joke, the other threw a chair. That’s showbiz—and New York City.”
Final Thoughts: What Comes Next?
In the aftermath of the incident, questions abound.
Will the diner install permanent folding chairs in honor of Tyrus?
Will Jerry write this into a Seinfeld reunion script?
Is this the start of a buddy-cop movie franchise?
According to Netflix insiders, there are already talks of developing the story into a streaming film, tentatively titled: “Comics Under Fire: The Times Square Take-Down.”
And if that weren’t enough, fans are already petitioning for a statue in front of the diner: one of Tyrus mid-chair swing, and Jerry holding his coffee.
As for the robber? He remains in custody—likely wondering how his big crime was undone by a sitcom star and a folding chair.