Did you think I was just going to let you enjoy the strong first season of The Sinner in peace without ruining it for you? Did you assume, foolishly, that the 2005 military sci-fi film Stealth could remain uncancelled in this, the year of our lord 2019? I’m here to shatter your aspersions by confirming that it sure looks like Jessica Biel is an anti-vaccine activist now! Sorry!
As first reported by Jezebel, Biel appeared in a series of Instagram photos alongside Robert F Kennedy Jr, who is best known in recent years as a committed anti-vaxxer. The pair were together at the California State Assembly, lobbying against a proposed vaccination bill.
In one post, Kennedy describes Biel as “courageous”.
Various reports and rumours have circulated in the past that Biel and husband Justin Timberlake are iffy on vaccinating their kids, but appearing with known anti-vaxxer Kennedy more or less seals the deal. Kennedy is known for distorting vaccine science and making unsubstantiated claims – like the widely disproven allegation that vaccines contain dangerous levels of mercury.
Kennedy has also described the label ‘anti-vaxx’ as “pharmaceutical propaganda” and “a lie”. Back in May, members of the wider Kennedy family slammed Robert for his anti-vaxx activism, saying he “has helped to spread dangerous misinformation over social media and is complicit in sowing distrust of the science behind vaccines.”
As for Biel, Kennedy says she opposes the proposed California bill because she was “upset about this issue because of its particular cruelty.” In an interview with The Daily Beast, he wouldn’t go so far as to say Biel was actually an anti-vaxxer herself. “I would say that she was for safe vaccines and for medical freedom,” he told the outlet.
The bill in question here, SB 276, is intended to limit medical exemptions from vaccination without prior approval from a state medical officer. Proponents of the bill allege that vaccine skeptics are illegitimately using medical exemptions to dodge compulsory vaccination, while saying those with legitimate reasons not to be vaccinated – like those who are on immunosuppressant drugs – will still be able to secure exemptions.
California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed slight reservations about the bill – mostly because he thinks it will increase bureacracy. Kennedy praised Newsom for that, thanking the governor for “his wise and sober opposition to a draconian proposal.”
There’s no statement at the moment from Biel or her team, so we literally don’t know to what extent if any she actually opposes mandatory vaccination – only that she is definitely campaigning alongside a known anti-vaxxer. Weird look!
