DALLAS, UNITED STATES: Mark Cuban, 'Shark Tank' star, millionaire entrepreneur, and owner of both the Dallas Mavericks and Cost-Plus Drugs, joined a heated Twitter argument that criticized some major names, including podcaster and UFC commentator Joe Rogan and Twitter CEO Elon Musk, the world's richest man.
The debate was centered on Rogan challenging the medical expert Dr Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine and professor of pediatrics, molecular virology, and microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine, to a vaccine discussion on his show.
Joe Rogan offered $100K to debate
Hotez shared a Vice article on Twitter claiming Spotify has stopped attempting to stem Rogan's vaccine misinformation. The article followed a Rogan show featuring Robert F Kennedy Jr, a Democratic presidential contender and high-profile vaccine skeptic.
In a tweet, Rogan offered $100,000 to a charity if he debated him on his show, but Musk later criticized Hotez for being afraid of public debate. Bill Ackman, a billionaire hedge fund manager, added $150,000 to Rogan's wager, allowing $250,000 to go to charity.
Tom Nichols, a staff writer at The Atlantic, criticized the invitation, stating that no medical professional should agree to do this. He urged Hotez to ensure the industry he represented was not captured by heartless monsters with a history of criminal fines.
'Trying to bully Dr Hotez is ridiculous'
After a heated debate between Hotez, Rogan, and Musk, Cuban, whose company Cost Plus Pharmaceuticals works to reduce the cost of generic pharmaceuticals, chimed in and wrote on Twitter, "Way to talk in generalities Joe. Not saying there aren't a lot of fucked up things about pharma. That's why we created Costplusdrugs.com. But to ignore that the same industry has saved who knows how many lives is bullshit and you know it."
He continued, "It's also disrespectful to all the doctors, researchers and medical professionals that dedicate their lives to saving lives, like Dr Hotez and the 800k plus doctors in the country that believe vaccines save lives You arent trying to find the ground truth on vaccines. If you were you would bring on someone who focused on debating the issue. Like @thereal_truther."
"Trying to bully Dr Hotez is ridiculous. You have producers that will prepare you and you get to control the conversation. @RobertKennedyJr also has a staff ready to prepare him, and these topics are what he talks about in every speech," he added. "You both do this on a daily basis Dr Hotez works every day to try to find ways to help people. Joe , you and @elonmusk's @twitter are the mainstream online media and your platforms have become everything supposedly wrong with MSM. You are driven by self interest."
"Just like the MSM always has been accused of. And you both have earned that right. You busted your asses to be great at what you do and earned all you have accomplished. But don't lie to yourselves and all of us and tell us you are different. You aren't," he alleged.
'Oh, shut up Mark'
Rogan and Musk have yet to respond to the criticism, but one user replied in their support, "Oh, shut up Mark. FFS, I am so sick of hearing you spew medical misinformation because somehow you equate selling drugs with being medically astute."
She added, "Let look at the Pfizer data and educate you a tad. Page 7 is fatalities in the first 90 days. Page 12 is pregnant women that lost their babies. Last "8" pages are side effects. PS: Ivermectin, Hydroxychloroquine and interferon are curative for Covid-19, and the virus has a 99% survival rate for the healthy."
