Trevor Noah caused a firestorm on Twitter after joking about the Moderna vaccine.
(Picture: AFP via Getty Images)Trevor Noah made a joke about the Moderna vaccine - and caused a firestorm on Twitter.
A 44-second video was posted to The Daily Show’s official Twitter account with the caption: “Moderna’s CEO hints at needing new vaccines to get ahead of omicron. Hmm…”
Moderna’s CEO hints at needing new vaccines to get ahead of Omicron. Hmm… pic.twitter.com/aYBNSWjodF
— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) December 2, 2021
“On one hand, almost all the omicron cases have been mild,” Noah begins. “But on the other hand, the guy who stands to gain millions from new vaccines says we need new vaccines, huh?”
“If we don’t make a new vaccine, this disease could be with us Ferrari! I mean, forever! Sorry, I was thinking of something else.” he continued, mocking Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel.
“Now look, I’m not saying that the CEO of Moderna is lying. I’m not saying that at all,” Noah clarified. “I’m just saying I don’t think he’s the most objective source on this topic.”
“I’ll wait to hear what neutral experts say about a new vaccine,” he added. “People like public health officials, or the CEO of Johnson & Johnson. I mean he’s got nothing to gain because no one’s gonna buy his vaccines either way, so, I trust him.”
While Trevor Noah himself is not anti-vaxxer, the tweet has gone viral within the anti-vaxx community - as well as those opposed to vaccine mandates, and other skeptics.
Did Trever Noah just figure this out?
— An0maly (@LegendaryEnergy) December 3, 2021
Surprised the puppet masters let him say this out loud.
pic.twitter.com/RmZP7y9RKi
Will Trevor Noah get fired for saying the quiet part out loud?
— Avi Yemini 🇦🇺🇮🇱 (@OzraeliAvi) December 3, 2021
He genuinely seemed surprised.
It only took him two years to connect the dots.
pic.twitter.com/f6i3g2HZAN
Trevor Noah is catching on 👀pic.twitter.com/K5WPu276B4
— Chance Coleman (@ChanceTyColeman) December 3, 2021
Trevor Noah dropping red pills on The Daily Show 🤯 https://t.co/AFDQ3Zdo52
— Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) December 3, 2021
As a result, some people complained that the joke is “indistinguishable” from conspiracy theory anti-vaxx rhetoric.
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This is indistinguishable from MAGA anti-vaxx rhetoric pic.twitter.com/6g56cxom5Z
— Neoliberal 🌐 (@ne0liberal) December 2, 2021
another anti-vaxx conspiracy theorist rant from *squints* Trevor Noah https://t.co/2qIWJQWBn3
— Siraj Hashmi (@SirajAHashmi) December 3, 2021
Jesus. What’s the difference between this and what the anti-vaxx right has been saying?
— Nick Pappas (@NickAPappas) December 2, 2021
“This is irresponsible and can get people killed. Shame on y’all,” said another user.
This is irresponsible and can get people killed. Shame on y’all.
— THEE Tío Sam 🇺🇸🇨🇺 (@TioSamSays) December 2, 2021
Some have come to Noah’s defense, saying that he’s allowed to be suspicious of Big Pharma.
Covidiots who think this means Trevor Noah has joined your death cult: u can be suspicious of Big Pharma AND believe in vaccines just like u can be of Big Tech while using phones to read this.
— raf (@rafaelshimunov) December 3, 2021
Progressives have been confronting them since before u voted for their henchmen. https://t.co/Les6CVHJEI
This isn’t an anti-vaxx stance it’s a valid question that he’s allowed to ask. You can support vaccines and still question the motive of companies at the same time. It’s possible to do both and that’s exactly what Trevor Noah is doing. https://t.co/IZ89bWseQU
— Malynda Hale (@MalyndaHale) December 3, 2021
Noah has yet to respond to the backlash.
