A virologist who was challenged by podcaster Joe Rogan to a debate with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says he was followed outside his home after a right-wing commentator released a video confronting him.
dr Peter Hotez, pediatrician and dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, tweeted his concerns Saturday about Rogan’s interview with Kennedy, a long-term Democratic presidential nominee.
Hotez raised concerns about Kennedy and Rogan’s comments about the dangers of vaccines. That sparked a backlash from both sides, with some pushing Hotez to debate and others blasting Rogan.
Hotez was confronted Sunday by Alex Rosen, a self-proclaimed “independent journalist” who works for a website called Predator Poachers.
After exchanging pleasantries, Rosen asked Hotez why he wasn’t debating Kennedy.
“Oh come on, that’s annoying,” Hotez replied.
dr Peter Hotez, a virologist who was challenged by podcaster Joe Rogan to a debate with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., says he was followed outside his home after a right-wing commentator released a video confronting him
“Just curious, nothing hostile, just curious,” Rosen replied.
Hotez said he hasn’t made a decision yet, saying Rogan “just invited me, so we’ll see.” “We’ll think about it.”
After reiterating that he thinks Hotez should discuss it, he asked, “What do you say to people who think they’re vaccinated?”
Clearly troubled, Hotez began closing his gate and walked away from Rosen.
The virologist tweeted on Sunday about what he believed to be stalking, possibly referring to Rosen. He also poked fun at his casual outfit.
“Ugh, I just got stalked outside my house by some anti-vaccination guys who were taunting me for debating RFK Jr. Of course I looked fine in our brutal Sunday heatwave.’ What about the people?’
Kennedy reiterated his debunked claims that popular vaccines cause autism in children in last week’s interview on Rogan’s podcast, which Hotez called “just horrible,” while lamenting, “It’s clear that many actually believe this nonsense.”
Rogan responded with a challenge: “Peter, if you claim that what RFK Jr. is saying is ‘misinformation’, I’m offering you $100,000 to the charity of your choice if you’re willing to appear on my show without.” limited time to debate with him. ‘
Twitter owner Elon Musk quickly chimed in to fuel the drama, tweeting that Hotez “just hates charity” and saying the scientist is “afraid of a public debate because he knows he’s wrong.”
Rogan’s interview with Kennedy last week sparked backlash from Hotez, who took down the vaccine concerns, calling it “just awful,” while lamenting, “It’s clear a lot of people actually believe this nonsense.”
RFK Jr. appeared on Rogan’s podcast and reiterated his debunked claims that common vaccines cause autism in children
The virologist tweeted Sunday about what he perceived as stalking, possibly in reference to Rosen confronting him at his home
Earlier Sunday, Hotez received the backing of billionaire Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.
“That doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot of crap out there in the pharma industry.” But ignoring the fact that the same industry has saved who knows how many lives is bullshit and you know it,” he tweeted.
“It’s also disrespectful to all doctors, researchers and healthcare professionals who devote their lives to saving lives, like Dr. Hotez and the more than 800,000 doctors across the country who believe vaccines save lives.”
Later in his rant, Cuban criticized Rogan and Musk.
“Joe, you and Elon Musk’s Twitter are the mainstream online media and your platforms have allegedly got it all wrong with MSM.” They are driven by self-interest. Just like the MSM have always been accused of.’
Shark Tank star and NBA owner Mark Cuban joined the Rogans in their challenge
Hotez, a pediatrician and dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, tweeted his concerns about the Kennedy interview on Saturday
In several tweets, Hotez indicated his willingness to appear on Rogan’s podcast, which reaches a massive audience of millions on Spotify.
“I’m happy to come over and have a meaningful discussion.” I respect you and your show and don’t want a controversial relationship. “I think we can make some progress,” Hotez tweeted.
“And I’m open to a number of different options, but being pressured right now to give you an answer on Twitter with a ‘take it or leave it’ demand, that’s not the way I work.” To be honest, I don’t think so not even that it would be in your best interest,” he wrote.
Kennedy also showed his willingness to get involved by tweeting, “Peter. Let’s finally have the respectful, sympathetic, and informative debate the American people deserve.”
During his appearance Thursday on Rogan’s podcast, Kennedy reiterated his longstanding and disproved claims that common vaccines cause autism in children.
“Everyone will say, ‘There’s no study that shows a link between autism and vaccines.’ That’s just crazy. These are people who don’t deal with science. It’s part of the religion.’
The Democratic presidential nominee has made a name for himself as a prominent anti-vaccination campaigner, but his involvement in the movement intensified during the pandemic and the development of the Covid-19 vaccine.
His anti-vaccination charity, Children’s Health Defense, was thriving at the time, more than doubling sales to $6.8 million in 2020, according to filings filed with charity regulators.
Elon Musk was quick to chime in on Twitter, stoking the drama and saying Hotez was afraid of a public debate
Rogan’s challenge sparked a heated back-and-forth on Twitter, but Hotez hinted in multiple tweets that he’d be willing to appear on the podcast
Kennedy Jr. published a book in 2021 called “The Real Anthony Fauci” in which he accused the top US infectious disease doctor of helping to orchestrate a “historic coup d’etat against Western democracy” and unproven COVID-19 Treatments like ivermectin promoted. which is intended to treat parasites, and the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine.
His opposition to the COVID-19 vaccine has at times linked him to anti-democracy figures and groups.
Kennedy Jr. appeared at events spreading the false claim that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. He was also close to people who cheered or downplayed the riot in the US Capitol.
Kennedy Jr. has at times invoked his family legacy in his anti-vaccination work, and has sometimes used images of President John F. Kennedy.
His sister Kerry Kennedy, who directs Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, the international human rights group founded by her mother Ethel, said her brother temporarily removed some content at her request.
She told the Associated Press in a 2021 interview that her brother was “completely wrong and very dangerous on this issue.”
After Kennedy announced his presidential nomination as the Democratic nominee in April, he sits at about 15 percent of potential primary voters, compared to 62 percent for President Joe Biden.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (left) waves to the crowd at the kick-off of his 2024 presidential campaign alongside his wife, Curb Your Enthusiasm actress Cheryl Hines (right).
Since Kennedy announced his presidential nomination as the Democratic nominee in April, polls have put him at about 15 percent of potential primary voters
Kennedy Jr. has refused to openly speculate about Biden’s mental fitness for the post, but told Fox News he entered the race because he was unhappy with what Biden was “doing with this country.”
In particular, he referred to the President’s handling of the ongoing war in Ukraine, which he believed should have been resolved long ago.
The amount of US dollars that have been sent to Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict currently totals more than US$130 billion, a number Kennedy pointed out that far exceeds the combined budgets of many US government agencies.
The candidate suggested spending some of that money in the United States instead, citing the fact that 57 percent of Americans cannot afford a sudden hardship expense of $1,000.
Kennedy has also won a niche group of supporters among conservatives for his vocal skepticism about the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as his support for keeping natural men out of women’s sports.