Scientist pressured by Musk and Rogan to debate RFK Jr over anti-vaccine misinformation says he won’t be part of ‘Jerry Springer’ show

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “I’ve offered to come and talk to Joe Rogan again, and have that discussion with him, but not to turn it into the Jerry Springer with having RFK Jr on,” he told MSNBC. I offered to go on Joe Rogan but not to turn it into the Jerry Springer show with having RFK Jr. pic.twitter.com/9ydNLXnxeS — The Mehdi Hasan Show June 19, 2023 The saga began after Dr Hotez shared a Vice article that debunked the “orgy of unchecked vaccine misinformation” made by RFK Jr and Rogan during a three-hour interview last week. “Joe if you are serious about addressing vaccines + the fact that 200,000 unvaccinated Americans needlessly perished during our awful delta/BA.1 Covid waves because they fell victims to vaccine disinformation: I want to have that discussion.” Mr Musk then joined in the pile-on, saying: “He’s afraid of public debate, because he knows he’s wrong.” open image in gallery Vaccine scientist Peter Hotez spoke to MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan about why he won’t debate RFK Jr Mr Musk’s tweet seemed to spark a succession of venture capitalists to enter the conversation, including Bill Ackman, the CEO of Pershing Square, who offered to throw in $150,000 to convince Dr Hotez to participate. No patents, minimal strings attached, so we actually found a way to bypass the pharma companies and yet RKF Jr incessantly calls me a pharma shill.” open image in gallery Joe Rogan and Elon Musk teamed up to try to force Peter Hotez to debate RFK Jr about Covid vaccines He said the origin of his feud with RFK Jr began after he debunked the propagandist’s false claims linking vaccines to autism in his 2018 book Vaccines Did Not Cause Rachel’s Autism: My Journey as a Vaccine Scientist, Pediatrician, and Autism Dad.