Star Rejects Anti-Vaxxer Views After Lending His Voice To Disputed Covid Film
Liam Neeson has given his narration to a feature-length documentary that questions the legitimacy of vaccines and lauds one-time cabinet secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr.
The Documentary's Contentious Origins
Called "Plague of Corruption," the film is based on a popular book written by Judy Mikovits, who gained notoriety during the global outbreak for assertions that the illness was linked to a problematic version of the seasonal immunization.
The publication's collaborator, Kent Heckenlively, has also written books with far-right figure the Infowars host. Heckenlively took to social media praising Neeson's role in the film.
An Unequivocal Statement
The team of the actor have released a comment pushing back against implications that he holds anti-immunization views.
"Many recognize that unethical practices can exist within the pharmaceutical industry, but that should never be conflated with being against vaccines," the statement reads. "Neeson never has been, and remains not, against vaccines. His considerable work with the global charity reinforces his enduring support for global immunisation initiatives."
The statement continued that the actor did not shape the film's editorial content and that concerns about its claims ought to go to the producers.
Central Assertions Within the Documentary
According to the documentary, the narration provided by Neeson makes several controversial statements:
- It suggests that pro-vaccine voices have insisted on "blind obedience" to government bodies.
- It posits that "research has become dangerously influenced by politics."
- RFK Jr is featured stating, "The core flaw with vaccines is that they are not properly vetted."
- It further attacks pandemic restrictions, arguing they caused mental anguish that resulted in thousands of lives.
- Concerning Covid vaccines, it references a perspective that they were "developed too quickly" and seen as "risky trials."
Historical Controversy and Recent Issues
The documentary also references a past television report about clinical trials on children, which was later the subject of a BBC apology by the broadcaster for violations of guidelines.
Recently, the political figure instructed the Centers for Disease Control to revise its long-held position that there is no link between vaccines and autism spectrum disorder. This supposed link is also referenced in the documentary, even with a recent study from the WHO reiterating no such link has been found.
A Previous Position of Endorsement
Differing from the documentary's tone, Neeson has previously voiced clear advocacy for vaccines in his role as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador.
In 2022, he called vaccines as "an extraordinary human success story," noting that "The discourse about vaccines in recent years has overlooked how much good they have done... It is perhaps one of the biggest shared accomplishments in human history."
"Plague of Corruption" concludes with Neeson's voice stating, "This is not the conclusion of our narrative. It is the start of a different phase."
