Following mega-podcaster Joe Rogan challenging vaccine scientist Peter Hotez to a debate with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the jab advocate is now complaining that he is being “stalked” and harassed over it.
Billionaire Bill Ackman, along with others, is calling for Hotez to debate anti-vaccine activist RFK Jr. on the facts and they are offering big bucks for him to do so. Elon Musk also jumped into the mix.
Rogan offered the scientist $100,000 to debate the Democratic presidential contender on vaccines and Hotez refused to do so. The Left is saying under no circumstances should he stoop to a debate with RFK Jr. because he is a conspiracy theorist. However, if Hotez is secure in his scientific footing on vaccinations, he should have jumped at the opportunity.
The challenge devolved into a Twitter spat and Hotez was cornered by one person asking him in front of his home why he wouldn’t debate RFK Jr. on vaccines. That interaction caused Hotez to claim he was being “stalked” and harassed.
Hotez tweeted, “Ugh I just was stalked in front of my home by a couple of anti-vaxers taunting me to debate RFKJr. Of course I was looking my Sunday best in our brutal heat wave. What is it with people?”
Ugh I just was stalked in front of my home by a couple of antivaxers taunting me to debate RFKJr. Of course I was looking my Sunday best in our brutal heat wave. What is it with people? Well at least Houstonian’s now know I support the team…#GoTexans pic.twitter.com/d0NIgNElKN
— Prof Peter Hotez MD PhD (@PeterHotez) June 18, 2023
First of all, I am generally pro vaccine. I have been vaccinated against pretty much everything, as have my kids.
Second, I think there is tremendous promise in synthetic mRNA. It is like medicine going from analog to digital.
That said, the world obviously went crazy with… pic.twitter.com/lQkqY8uvgT
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 18, 2023
Independent journalist Alex Rosen then blew up Twitter by posting a video of the attempted interview with Hotez.
I confronted @PeterHotez and asked why he is too scared to debate @RobertKennedyJr on the @joerogan podcast!
W/ @merissahansen17 pic.twitter.com/rusls6XlzN
— Alex Rosen (@iFightForKids) June 18, 2023
The interchange began on Saturday after Hotez tweeted out a Vice article slamming an interview Rogan did with RFK Jr. on his podcast, “The Joe Rogan Experience.” Kennedy spoke about links between the COVID vaccine and autism as well as other points concerning the jab.
Spotify Has Stopped Even Sort of Trying to Stem Joe Rogan’s Vaccine Misinformation. It’s really true @annamerlan just awful. And from all the online attacks I’m receiving after this absurd podcast, it’s clear many actually believe this nonsense https://t.co/GwIFsOODC2
— Prof Peter Hotez MD PhD (@PeterHotez) June 17, 2023
Rogan then asked Hotez to debate RFK Jr. and pledged $100,000 to a charity of Hotez’s choice if he would do so. Ackman then pledged an additional $150,000 if Hotez agreed to do the debate. Then other public figures and vaccine skeptics joined in to make similar pledges. When it was all said and done, the total charitable pledges tallied up to at least $600,000.
I will add $150,000 to @joerogan’s wager so now $250,000 can go to charity and the public can hear an open debate on an important topic. https://t.co/dp3XCiqllS
— Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) June 18, 2023
Adds to this offer: https://t.co/Evb9wMzZdL
— Steve Kirsch (@stkirsch) June 18, 2023
I will add $100k to @joerogan‘s debate offer.
I think this brings the total to around $800k https://t.co/ZGjEcOc6kx
— Tim Pool (@Timcast) June 18, 2023
Peter. Let’s finally have the respectful,congenial,informative debate that the American people deserve.
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) June 17, 2023
“You know, the attacks from the anti-vaccine lobby do come in waves. And this time, though, it’s been one of the tougher ones. Because, as you pointed out, the physical stalking and the incessant threatening emails,” Hotez told MSNBC’s Mehdi Hasan on Sunday night.
“And the stuff online is just total whack-a-doodle. And let’s face it, when you have RFK Jr. and Joe Rogan, and Elon Musk, all tag-teaming, those tres hombres at the same time,” he added. “That probably includes just about every follower on Twitter. So, it’s pretty overwhelming.”
Of course he goes to Mehdi Hassan to say this, knowing that Mehdi is the biggest covidian out of everyone on TV and will not challenge him at all.
— Christina Pushaw (@ChristinaPushaw) June 19, 2023
Hotez has been on Rogan’s podcast before. At one point he agreed to go on Rogan’s show “to clear the air,” but it wasn’t an acceptance of the debate.
“I offered to go on Joe Rogan but not to turn it into the Jerry Springer show with having RFK Jr. on,” Hotez told Hasan.
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