Instagram bans Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for sharing debunked COVID-19 vaccine claims
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. no longer has an Instagram account, with a spokesperson announcing that he was banned from the platform "for repeatedly sharing debunked claims about the coronavirus or vaccines."
Kennedy, the son of the late senator and attorney general Robert F. Kennedy, is an environmental activist who has been sharing anti-vaccine conspiracy theories before and throughout the coronavirus pandemic. He has helped spread the false claims that vaccines can cause autism and asked Congress to give parents exemptions from state vaccine requirements.
In a statement, Kennedy said he was the victim of "censorship," and denied that he was sharing conspiracy theories. He still has an active Facebook page with more than 300,000 followers.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
After each horrific child abuse case, we hear that lessons will be learnt
Talking Point After each horrific child abuse case, we hear that lessons will be learnt. What is still missing?
By The Week UK Published
-
Sudoku medium: December 21, 2024
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
Codeword: December 21, 2024
The Week's daily codeword puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
Judges block $25B Kroger-Albertsons merger
Speed Read The proposed merger between the supermarket giants was stalled when judges overseeing two separate cases blocked the deal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Rupert Murdoch loses 'Succession' court battle
Speed Read Murdoch wanted to give full control of his empire to son Lachlan, ensuring Fox News' right-wing editorial slant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Bitcoin surges above $100k in post-election rally
Speed Read Investors are betting that the incoming Trump administration will embrace crypto
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Enron mystery: 'sick joke' or serious revival?
Speed Read 23 years after its bankruptcy filing, the Texas energy firm has announced its resurrection
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US charges Indian tycoon with bribery, fraud
Speed Read Indian billionaire Gautam Adani has been indicted by US prosecutors for his role in a $265 million scheme to secure solar energy deals
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Boeing machinists approve contract, end strike
Speed Read The company's largest union approved the new contract offer, ending a seven-week strike
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US economy still strong in final preelection report
Speed Read It grew at a solid 2.8% annual rate from July through September
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Boeing machinists reject deal, continue strike
Speed Read The rejection came the same day Boeing reported a $6.2 billion quarterly loss
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published