Vaccine scientist says he was stalked following Joe Rogan debate challenge

Jun 20, 2023

Mahmoud Bennett Reporter/Producer

By Mahmoud Bennett (Reporter/Producer)

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A prominent vaccine scientist says he was stalked outside of his home following a viral back-and-forth on Twitter with podcaster Joe Rogan. Rogan had offered Dr. Peter Hotez $100,000 to debate prominent anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The story has been labeled as a Media Miss by the left, according to the Straight Arrow News Media Miss tool.

The initial exchange began when scientist Peter Hotez shared a Vice article accusing Rogan of spreading vaccine misinformation on his podcast by inviting RFK Jr. as a guest.

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

In response, Rogan tweeted, “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.”

Hotez replied that Rogan had his contact information and said, “I’m always willing to speak with you.”

Meanwhile, billionaire Bill Ackman joined in, offering an additional $150,000 to see the debate.

Twitter owner Elon Musk tweeted claiming Hotez’s response to the debate offer was a “non answer.”

Following the exchange, Hotez said on Sunday, June 18, he was stalked and taunted outside his home.

A video posted by a user on Twitter showed a man asking Hotez if he would engage in the debate.

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

Dr. Peter Hotez, a professor and pediatrician, has played a role in vaccine development and has dedicated much of his career to studying diseases.

CNN reported Hotez has experienced harassment over vaccines even before the onset of the pandemic. The harassment came after writing a book about his daughter called “Vaccines Did Not Cause Rachel’s Autism.”

During an appearance on the Mehdi Hasan show, Hotez said he was willing to appear on the podcast to discuss vaccines, but would not “turn it into the Jerry Springer show” by engaging in a debate with Kennedy.

.@PeterHotez responds to being asked to debate anti-vaxxer RFK Jr.

"Anti-vaccine disinformation…is now a lethal force in the United States. I offered to go on Joe Rogan but not to turn it into the Jerry Springer show with having RFK Jr. on." pic.twitter.com/9ydNLXnxeS
— The Mehdi Hasan Show (@MehdiHasanShow) June 19, 2023

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is currently running for the Democratic nomination for the 2024 presidential race, polls at approximately 16%, according to Real Clear Politics. Incumbent President Joe Biden maintains a comfortable lead at 62%, per the polling.

A poll found that 80% of Democratic primary voters believe there should be a series of Democratic presidential primary debates ahead of the 2024 election.

President Biden has signaled that he does not plan to participate in such debates.

Tags: Elon Musk, Joe Rogan Experience, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Vaccinations

MAHMOUD BENNETT:

THE DEBATE OVER VACCINES IS NOTHING NEW – BUT A VIRAL BACK AND FORTH IS LIGHTING UP TWITTER AFTER JOE ROGAN OFFERED A LEADING VACCINE EXPERT A 100K CHECK TO DEBATE PROMINENT ANTI VAXX *ACTIVIST* ROBERT F KENNEDY JR

IT COMES AFTER THIS POST – WHERE SCIENTIST PETER HOTEZ SHARED AN ARTICLE – IT ACCUSED ROGAN OF SPREADING SO CALLED VACCINE MISINFORMATION ON HIS PODCAST WHEN HE INVITED ON RFK JUNIOR

QUOTE SPOTIFY HAS STOPPED EVEN SORT OF TRYING TO STEM JOE ROGAN’S VACCINE MISINFORMATION SAID HOTEZ

IN RESPONSE ROGAN TWEETED AND I QUOTE .. PETER, IF YOU CLAIM WHAT RFKJR IS SAYING IS “MISINFORMATION” I AM OFFERING YOU $100 THOUSAND DOLLARS TO THE CHARITY OF YOUR CHOICE IF YOU’RE WILLING TO DEBATE HIM ON MY SHOW … BILLIONAIRE BILL ACKMAN ALSO THROWING IN 150K TO SEE THAT DEBATE AND TWITTER OWNER ELON MUSK EVEN CHIMED IN

IN RESPONSE HOTEZ TOLD JOE ROGAN HE’S ALWAYS WILLING TO TALK.. BUT PEOPLE LATER SHOWED UP AT HIS HOUSE

VIDEO: SO WHY ARE YOU NOT GOING TO DEBATE RFK ON JOE ROGAN’S PODCAST …. I HAVEN’T SAID ONE THING OR THE OTHER… DON’T COME TO MY HOUSE

MAHMOUD BENNETT:

AS A PROFESSOR AND PEDIATRICIAN PETER HOTEZ HAS HELPED DEVELOP VACCINES AND HAS SPENT MUCH OF HIS CAREER STUDYING DISEASES.. HE’S DEFENDED THE SCIENCE OF GETTING IMMUNIZED EVEN WRITING A BOOK IN 2018 TITLED “VACCINES DID NOT CAUSE RACHEL’S AUTISM” …

HE SAYS ANTIVACCINE DISINFORMATION DURING THE PANDEMIC CONTRIBUTED TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DEATHS… SO WILL HE DEBATE ROBERT F KENNEDY JUNIOR WHO IS NOT A SCIENTIST? WHILE APPEARING ON THE MEHDI HASSAN SHOW HERE’S WHAT HE SAID.

MEHDI HASSAN SHOW: “THE POINT IS ANTI VACCINE MISINFORMATION IT’S ALWAYS DONE A LOT OF DAMAGE… AND I OFFERED TO GO ON… BUT NOT TO TURN IT INTO THE JERRY SPRINGER SHOW AND HAVE RFK JUNIOR ON”

MAHMOUD BENNETT:

RFK JUNIOR IS CURRENTLY IN A LONGSHOT BID FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION TO TAKE THE WHITE HOUSE IN 2024 – POLLING AT ABOUT 16 PERCENT ACCORDING TO REAL CLEAR POLITICS – INCUMBENT PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN MEANWHILE LEADS COMFORTABLY AT 62%…

DESPITE THIS POLLING SHOWS SOME 80% OF DEMOCRATS WANT TO SEE BIDEN FACE OFF WITH HIS CHALLENGERS – SOMETHING BIDEN HAS SO FAR SIGNALED HE WILL NOT DO..