On November 25, Fox & Friends promoted “a scathing message” from actor Rob Schneider that “Free Speech is ALL speech. … We don’t need people deciding FOR us what to think, see or hear.” Fox & Friends presented Schneider's tweet as a neutral defense of free speech in contrast to actor Sacha Baron Cohen’s recent criticism of Facebook for allowing false political ads. However, Fox & Friends failed to mention that Schneider’s comment literally came in the middle of a rant pushing false conspiracy theories against vaccines.
Fox & Friends lauds Rob Schneider for “standing up for free speech” without noting he was pushing anti-vaccination conspiracy theories
Written by Bobby Lewis
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Even though there is absolutely no credible evidence that vaccines commonly cause major health problems, anti-vaccination conspiracy theories remain popular, regardless of political ideology, and they are a frequent topic for Schneider.
Fox & Friends guest Karith Foster said that Schneider “definitely had a point,” and co-host Brian Kilmeade used his tweet to highlight how important it is that comedians continue to “push barriers.” But nobody seemed to be aware that the specific barrier seemingly being pushed was one that exposes people to painful, fatal diseases that we have the medical technology to prevent.
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BRIAN KILMEADE (CO-HOST): Standing up for free speech: Actor and SNL alum Rob Schneider taking to Twitter with a scathing message, quote, “Sorry to have to repeat this again. Free speech is all speech. Even the speech that you find repugnant. You are either for all of it or you for none of it. We don’t need people deciding for us what to think, see, or hear. That’s a load of totalitarian crap.” Our next guest is a comedian featured in the documentary No Safe Spaces, which goes nationwide December 6. It takes free speech on college campuses to task. Let’s greet Karith Foster. Karith, who’s right in here? Sacha Baron Cohen, who’s vilifying Facebook, or is it Rob Schneider?
KARITH FOSTER (COMEDIAN): Well Rob Schneider definitely has a point. Either you are for free speech, or you’re not. There’s no “a little bit, I’m kind of” -- it’s like being a little bit pregnant. Either you are or you aren’t.
KILMEADE: I hear you. And he’s been critical in the past because he feels stifled. You comedians are the first ones to get stifled. You can’t be as creative as you want, you can’t push barriers because now, all of a sudden, you’re pushed off the stage.
FOSTER: That is what’s happening. A lot of places, a lot of clubs, people are complaining, saying they don’t like something. They’re not understanding that yes, comedy comes from pain. Everybody has heard the equation tragedy plus time equals comedy; it’s not always going to be comfortable. But if you can laugh at it, you can get through it. That’s one of my mottos, and that’s what comics believe. The idea is to use humor to heal wounds. Use humor to bring people together. Use humor to connect us. And if we don’t have that going for us, then we’re pretty -- we’re in a very sad state.