Shaping culture and breaking barriers
Rapper Kevin Gates made some pretty bold comments in a 2016 interview with Rolling Stone. He expressed the belief that his children were more advanced than their peers because they hadn't been vaccinated.
Sources: (Rolling Stone) (SBS) (Billboard) (PopCrush)
Rob Schneider made some bold statements in 2015 in opposition of the proposed vaccine mandate. “The efficacy of these shots have not been proven. And the toxicity of these things—we’re having more and more side effects. We’re having more and more autism," he claimed. He was subsequently dropped from a series of US State Farm ads he had been involved in.
R&B superstar Toni Braxton is another famous parent who believes that vaccination contributed to her son's autism. In her 2014 memoir, she wrote, "Maybe it’s just a coincidence that after my son’s first MMR vaccine, I began to notice changes in him." Later in the book she also said she felt that his autism diagnosis was God's punishment for an abortion she had in the past.
Jenna Elfman of the '90s sitcom 'Dharma & Greg' is another actress affiliated with Scientology who spoke out against the 2015 bill that mandated parents vaccinate their children regardless of their beliefs.
Famous tattoo artist and makeup mogul Kat Von D announced in 2018 that she would not be vaccinating her first child, Laefar, who was born that year. Her husband, Rafael Reyes, has also shown support for multiple anti-vax films.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a vocal public figure who is widely considered to be a conspiracy theorist and anti-vaccine propagandist. He has long promoted the disproven theories that vaccines are linked to food allergies and autism in children. He's also the chairman of the activist group Children's Health Defense, an anti-vaccine organization.
Selma Blair has confirmed that she vaccinated her own children, but also spoke out against the 2015 California vaccine mandate for children along with Jim Carrey. She stated on Twitter that "parental choice is our right. Most vaccinate. Let us choose.”
Charlie Sheen felt so strongly about his children being vaccinated that he got into an altercation with his ex-wife, actress Denise Richards, in 2008. Sheen was vehemently opposed to their two daughters getting vaccinated and reportedly enlisted lawyers to prevent Richards proceeding with the inoculation.
He called then Californian Governor Jerry Brown a fascist for mandating vaccines for schoolchildren regardless of their parents' religious or philosophical beliefs. The growing number of unvaccinated children in California actually contributed to a measles epidemic in 2014 that led the state to decide that a parent's ability to leave their child unvaccinated should be restricted.
Long before Donald Trump became president and gained responsibility for managing the COVID-19 pandemic, he was already expressing anti-vaccine sentiments. In the 2010s, he was speaking out against mandatory vaccines and propagating the idea that vaccines were linked to autism in children. “Healthy young child goes to doctor, gets pumped with massive shot of many vaccines, doesn’t feel good and changes – AUTISM. Many such cases!"
'The Big Bang Theory' star Mayim Bialik is an advocate of the natural parenting movement and has previously said that she has a "non-vaccinating" family. She went on to promote books by an anti-vaccine activist, but later said that her own children were in fact vaccinated.
Jenny McCarthy could be considered the anti-vax poster girl of Hollywood! The actress' son was diagnosed with autism when he was two years old, and she staunchly believes that the MMR vaccine was the cause.
Danny Masterson, also a Scientologist, came out with a forceful statement on Twitter in regards to the same bill. Although he said he was pro-vaccine, he tweeted, "No way does the govt tell me what to do to my child. disgusting."
Alicia Silverstone is known for having quite a few alternative beliefs when it comes to pregnancy, childbirth, and health in general. Many of these views are expressed in her book 'The Kind Mama: A Simple Guide to Supercharged Fertility, a Radiant Pregnancy, a Sweeter Birth, and a Healthier, More Beautiful Beginning.' She has expressed the opinion that tampons may be linked to infertility and that veganism reduces the risk of miscarriage.
McCarthy also claimed that her son "recovered" from autism through “biomedical treatment" that involved detoxing his body from metals. Many anti-vaxxers believe that the trace amount of mercury used as a preservative in vaccines is dangerous, although there's no evidence that such a low dose causes any harm whatsoever.
Jim Carrey was in a relationship with Jenny McCarthy between 2005 and 2010. He has also passionately spoken out on the issue, referring to it as a "growing crisis" and insisting that more research needs to be done into the safety of vaccines for children.
Rolling Stone suggested that there may be a connection between Scientology and anti-vaccine sentiments, even though the Church has never made a public stance on the issue. They noted that Lewis and several others who don't support vaccines are members of Scientology, and that an outbreak of measles on a Scientology cruise suggested some members may not have had the childhood MMR vaccine.
In 2015, Juliette Lewis spoke out on the issue of child vaccinations. While denying she was anti-vax, she stated that she just wanted "safe vaccines," perpetuating the narrative that vaccines deemed safe and essential by the world medical community are, in fact, dangerous for children.
Rapper M.I.A. made several anti-vax statements during the pandemic, opening up about how upset and frustrated she was that she had to vaccinate her child in order for them to enter the American school system. She also made it clear she was against the COVID-19 vaccine, tweeting, "If I have to choose the vaccine or chip I'm gonna choose death - YALA."
As scientists raced to find a solution to the COVID-19 pandemic, the debate about vaccines and whether or not they should be mandatory was renewed with gusto. The overwhelming evidence from all reliable medical sources suggests that, yes, vaccines are generally safe and very much necessary for public health. However, it seemed like a new public figure was coming forward each day to spread fear, pseudoscience, and unverified stories of dangerous side effects. Vaccine mandates caused protests all over the world as many declared that vaccination should be a personal choice. While the fear felt by many under the terrifying circumstance of a worldwide pandemic is understandable, studies show that the benefits of vaccines far outweigh the potential risks.
Regardless of the scientific evidence, it becomes an emotional issue when children are involved. Protective parents who are concerned about unsubstantiated theories hold back on vaccinating their kids out of love, but in reality, put them at greater risk. Many say each should have the right to choose. However, when a celebrity with a huge public platform and a great deal of influence uses their voice to share controversial beliefs that contradict modern medicine, it's no longer a simple matter of personal choice. Their words and actions influence millions, whether they acknowledge that power or not. Most of these stars are insistent that they're pro-vaccine, yet they perpetuate disproven theories that suggest vaccines can cause serious health problems in children.
Want to read more on the matter? Then click through the following gallery to see which celebrities have spoken out against mandatory vaccines for children.
Controversial stars! Celebrities who have spoken out against vaccinating children
Find out which stars are suspicious of this standard medical practice
CELEBRITY Health
As scientists raced to find a solution to the COVID-19 pandemic, the debate about vaccines and whether or not they should be mandatory was renewed with gusto. The overwhelming evidence from all reliable medical sources suggests that, yes, vaccines are generally safe and very much necessary for public health. However, it seemed like a new public figure was coming forward each day to spread fear, pseudoscience, and unverified stories of dangerous side effects. Vaccine mandates caused protests all over the world as many declared that vaccination should be a personal choice. While the fear felt by many under the terrifying circumstance of a worldwide pandemic is understandable, studies show that the benefits of vaccines far outweigh the potential risks.
Regardless of the scientific evidence, it becomes an emotional issue when children are involved. Protective parents who are concerned about unsubstantiated theories hold back on vaccinating their kids out of love, but in reality, put them at greater risk. Many say each should have the right to choose. However, when a celebrity with a huge public platform and a great deal of influence uses their voice to share controversial beliefs that contradict modern medicine, it's no longer a simple matter of personal choice. Their words and actions influence millions, whether they acknowledge that power or not. Most of these stars are insistent that they're pro-vaccine, yet they perpetuate disproven theories that suggest vaccines can cause serious health problems in children.
Want to read more on the matter? Then click through the following gallery to see which celebrities have spoken out against mandatory vaccines for children.