LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Podcaster Joe Rogan and self-made billionaire Elon Musk have criticized a vaccination expert for calling Rogan's recent interview with anti-vax conspiracy theorist Robert F Kennedy Jr "nonsense."
On Saturday, Dr Peter Hotez, a pediatrician and director of Baylor College of Medicine's National School of Tropical Medicine, tweeted his reservations about Rogan's interview with Kennedy, a fringe Democratic presidential contender.
Who is Dr Peter Hotez?
Dr Peter J Hotez is the co-director of the Texas Children's Center for Vaccine Development (CVD) and holds the Texas Children's Hospital Endowed Chair of Tropical Pediatrics in addition to being the dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine and a professor of pediatrics and molecular virology & microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine.
Hotez termed Kennedy's statements that common childhood immunizations cause autism in the interview "just awful," lamenting that "it's clear many actually believe this nonsense." Kennedy reiterated his disproved claims throughout the interview. "Peter, if you claim what RFK jr is saying is "misinformation" I am offering you $100,000.00 to the charity of your choice if you're willing to debate him on my show with no time limit." Rogan shot out in response.
The dispute on Twitter, which Musk owns, drew Musk's immediate attention. He tweeted that Hotez "just hates charity" and said the scientist is "afraid of a public debate because he knows he's wrong." Hotez did, however, express interest in participating in Rogan's show, which has millions of Spotify listeners, in a number of tweets.
Hotez tweeted, "I'm happy to come on and have a meaningful discussion. I respect you and your show and I don't want an adversarial relationship. I think we can make some progress. 'And I'm open to a number of different options, but to be pressured to give you an answer on Twitter, now, with a "take it or leave it" demand that's not how I work. Honestly, I don't even think that would be in your best interests."
'That's people who are not looking at science'
Kennedy reiterated his long-standing and refuted assertions that common childhood immunizations cause autism during his Thursday interview on Rogan's show. He said, "Everybody will say, "There's no study that shows autism and vaccines are connected." That's just just crazy. That's people who are not looking at science. It's part of the religion."
The Democrat has gained notoriety for being a vocal opponent of vaccinations, although his engagement in the cause grew following the pandemic and the creation of the Covid-19 vaccine. According to reports submitted to charity inspectors, his anti-vaccine nonprofit, Children's Health Defense, flourished during the period, with sales more than tripling to $6.8 million in 2020. He has occasionally been associated with anti-democratic individuals and organizations due to his opposition to the COVID-19 vaccination.
Kennedy Jr has made appearances at gatherings where he promoted the fallacy that the 2020 presidential election was rigged and with supporters of the US Capitol riot. In his anti-vaccine writings, Kennedy Jr occasionally referred to his family's heritage and sometimes used photographs of President Kennedy, as reported by DailyMail.
