In a recent Twitter outburst, billionaire Mark Cuban criticized popular podcaster Joe Rogan and tech mogul Elon Musk, accusing them of spreading misinformation and attempting to bully vaccine expert Professor Peter Hotez.
Cuban’s remarks came after Rogan’s podcast episode featuring US presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who reiterated his anti-vaccine stance and alleged a conspiracy involving Dr. Anthony Fauci, Bill Gates, and pharmaceutical companies.
Hotez, who has been actively combating vaccine misinformation, called the episode “nonsense,” which prompted Rogan to challenge him to a debate with Kennedy Jr. Cuban slammed Rogan and Musk for contributing to the worsening climate on mainstream social media and accused them of being driven by self-interest.
Mark Cuban and Joe Rogan feud explained
A heated feud between Mark Cuban and Joe Rogan has unfolded on social media, sparked by Rogan’s recent podcast featuring anti-vaccination rhetoric from Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Cuban, who owns Cost Plus Drugs, criticised Rogan’s statements against the medical and pharmaceutical industries, calling them harmful and generalising.
Way to talk in generalities Joe. Not saying there aren't a lot of fucked up things about pharma. That's why we created https://t.co/jYSNkP7amr. But to ignore that the same industry has saved who knows how many lives is bullshit and you know it.
It's also disrespectful to all… https://t.co/bUawoBgbH6— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) June 18, 2023
While acknowledging flaws within the industry, Cuban highlighted the countless lives saved by medical professionals and researchers, expressing disrespect towards them. The conflict intensified as Rogan challenged vaccine researcher Peter Hotez to a debate on his podcast, leading Cuban to accuse Rogan of bullying Hotez.
https://youtu.be/iSJu1HQROAU
Cuban pointed out the unfair advantage Rogan and Kennedy had, with their prepared staff and frequent discussions on the topic. He also criticized Elon Musk, who joined the conversation, for perpetuating a toxic climate on mainstream social media platforms, contradicting their claims of being different from traditional media.
Cuban concluded by acknowledging the hard work and achievements of Rogan and Musk but called for honesty and self-awareness regarding their influence and behaviour. He argued that despite their success, they should not deny the similarities between their platforms and mainstream media in terms of self-interest and potential negative impact.
Why did Cuban target Elon Musk?
Mark Cuban, the billionaire owner of the Dallas Mavericks, recently weighed in on the debate between Joe Rogan, Elon Musk, and vaccine scientist Dr. Peter Hotez. Cuban expressed his disagreement with Rogan’s attempt to draw Hotez into a debate with Robert Kennedy Jr., stating that it was disrespectful to the doctors and medical professionals who dedicate their lives to saving lives.
Cuban also brought Elon Musk into the conversation, highlighting that both Rogan and Musk, as prominent figures on mainstream online platforms, had become what they supposedly criticised about mainstream media. He accused them of being driven by self-interest, similar to the mainstream media they often criticise.
By targeting Elon Musk, Cuban likely wanted to emphasise the contradictions between Musk’s claims of being different from mainstream media and his actual behaviour on social media platforms. Cuban’s perspective suggests that he sees Musk’s involvement in the conversation as emblematic of the problems he associates with mainstream media.
It is worth noting that Mark Cuban has a personal interest in the healthcare industry through his involvement with the Cost Plus Drug Company, which aims to provide safe and affordable medicines. It would be interesting to see how the debate progresses in the upcoming future, with the big guns like Elon Musk, Mark Cuban and Joe Rogan expressing their opinions in a forthright manner.
