Actor Rob Schneider has come under fire for an insensitive and controversial post following the announcement of NBA Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo’s death at the age of 58 due to brain cancer. Schneider, who is known for his vocal anti-vaccination stance, sparked outrage after he responded to Mutombo’s passing by insinuating that COVID-19 vaccines played a role in the beloved athlete’s death.
On Monday, shortly after the NBA confirmed Mutombo’s passing, Schneider quote-tweeted a 2021 post from Mutombo in which the basketball legend encouraged people to get vaccinated during the pandemic.
Instead of paying tribute to Mutombo’s legacy, Schneider used the moment to push his anti-vaccine agenda, writing: “Rest in Peace… I’m sure this is just (another) coincidence. But I took a pass on the Jab and I’m gonna not let anyone I know (and who will Listen) get it either!”
The tweet immediately drew backlash, as many felt Schneider’s comment was inappropriate and disrespectful, especially given Mutombo’s long battle with brain cancer. Mutombo, an 18-season NBA veteran and humanitarian, had spoken publicly during the pandemic about the importance of wearing masks and taking precautions to protect society. Schneider, however, appeared to suggest—without any evidence—that the COVID-19 vaccine had somehow contributed to Mutombo’s death.
RELATED: Barack Obama Pays Tribute to Dikembe Mutombo Following His Passing at 58
Social media users were quick to condemn Schneider’s remarks, with the post garnering 4.7 million views by Tuesday morning.
Many fans and commentators expressed disgust at the actor’s timing and tone. One of the most liked responses read: “Wow. Ambulance chaser celebrating another human’s death from cancer. Shame on you.” Another commenter bluntly added: “He had brain cancer, you absolute imbecile.”
Despite the backlash, Schneider stood by his comments, firing back at critics the following day. In another post, he dismissed the outrage as “fake” and doubled down on his anti-vaccination rhetoric, directing his anger at political and public health figures who had supported COVID-19 vaccines. “Dear Fake Outrage Warriors, save your anger for the liars who promised the jab was the only cure, that if you took it you wouldn’t ‘get COVID or give it,’” Schneider wrote, listing President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and others as targets of his frustration.
He also praised figures who had opposed mainstream medical advice during the pandemic, calling them “heroes,” including Dr. Peter Kory, Dr. Robert Malone, and Senator Ron Johnson, all of whom have been associated with promoting alternative treatments for COVID-19 or challenging the efficacy of vaccines.
Schneider’s controversial comments regarding Mutombo’s death stand in stark contrast to the more compassionate tone he struck in a separate post about the death of MLB hit king Pete Rose. In that tweet, Schneider offered a glowing tribute, writing, “The age-defying All Time Leader in Hits has joined the baseball Gods; (Babe) Ruth, (Willie) Mays, (Ty) Cobb, (Hank) Aaron, and (Mickey) Mantle. Though he never got in the Hall of Fame, his contribution to America’s Pastime is incontrovertible.”
This latest controversy is not the first time Schneider’s views have sparked public outrage or strained his personal relationships. Earlier this year, his daughter, singer Elle King, publicly distanced herself from her father’s controversial opinions, calling him “very toxic and very silly.” She criticized him for his anti-LGBTQ+ views and outspoken opposition to drag performances. “I disagree with a lot of the things that he says. You’re talking out of your a–, and you’re talking s–t about drag and, you know, anti-gay rights, and it’s like, get f–ked,” she said in an interview.
Schneider’s increasingly polarizing comments have left many questioning why he chose to use the death of a revered figure like Dikembe Mutombo as a platform for his anti-vaccine stance.
For many, it was yet another example of the actor’s controversial behavior, further alienating him from fans and peers alike.
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