Podcast host Joe Rogan issued a $100,000 challenge to Dr. Peter Hotez on Saturday after the vaccine scientist blasted Rogan for allowing Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to spread “misinformation” on his show.
Hotez called out Rogan for allowing Kennedy to come on The Joe Rogan Experience last week and reiterate his beliefs regarding the COVID-19 vaccine and vaccination in general.
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Among other claims, Kennedy reiterated a story about a mother who came to him with an autistic son that changed his outlook on vaccination, suggested media figures silenced comedians who questioned the vaccines, and detailed how pharmaceutical corporations profited from distributing the vaccine.
“Spotify Has Stopped Even Sort of Trying to Stem Joe Rogan’s Vaccine Misinformation,” Hotez tweeted after the episode aired. “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.
Peter, if you claim what RFKjr 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. https://t.co/m0HxYek0GX
— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) June 17, 2023
“Peter, if you claim what RFKjr 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 replied.
Hotez said that he is always willing to speak with Rogan, but the podcast host and UFC commentator was quick to reject the vaccine expert’s cordiality.
“Be serious Joe, that’s what you throw out for your hunting buddies on a weekend,” Hotez said in a now-deleted tweet, according to Rogan.
“A $50 million endowment (which You/Spotify/RFK Jr can easily afford), not for me but so we can continue making low-cost patent-free vaccines for the world’s poor. Preceded by RFK Jr’s public apology.”
“Joe, you have my cell, my email, I’m always willing to speak with you,” Hotez tweeted.
“This is a non answer,” Rogan said. “I challenged you publicly because you publicly quote tweeted and agreed with that dogs*** vice article.
“If you’re really serious about what you stand for, you now have a massive opportunity for a debate that will reach the largest audience a discussion like this has ever had. If you think someone else is better qualified, suggest that person.”
Hotez did not offer a yes or no answer, but he threw out multiple vaccine statistics.
“I’m happy to come on and clear the air. I respect you and your show. I don’t want an adversarial relationship, I think we can work well together,” the vaccine expert tweeted.
“To those misunderstanding what he’s saying, he’s NOT agreeing to debate @RobertKennedyJr,” Rogan then told his audience. “He’s just offering to come on my show by himself.”
The online feud has continued for two days, with various celebrities and online personalities weighing in.
“He’s afraid of a public debate, because he knows he’s wrong,” Elon Musk replied to Rogan.
Mark Cuban stood in firm negation to Rogan’s call out and chastised the podcast host.
“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,” Cuban tweeted.
“@RobertKennedyJr also has a staff ready to prepare him, and these topics are what he talks about in every speech. 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.”
Entrepreneur and podcaster Patrick Bet-David came to Rogan’s defense and argued that calling him a “bully” was a hypocritical act.
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“Millions of Americans from all walks of life were bullied into taking the vaccine. Some forced Many coerced Many threatened to lose their jobs,” Bet-David tweeted at Cuban.
“Thousands of businesses went bankrupt Families were divided on the vaccine issue. Late night hosts doing skits dressed in a syringes Mayors of NY city offering free fries if you took the vaccine NIH director flip flopping on masks MSM calling those who questioned the vaccine ‘conspiracy theorists’ And you @joerogan call a bully?”
