Television science educator Bill Nye revealed he blocked Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after receiving what he described as extensive text messages promoting vaccine skepticism and debunked claims linking vaccines to autism. The disclosure came during a recent interview with Men’s Health magazine, where Nye displayed the lengthy message chain on his phone.
The correspondence between the two began several years ago when they were introduced through mutual friend Ed Begley Jr., an actor and environmental advocate. At the time, Kennedy was primarily known for his environmental activism before becoming a prominent vaccine skeptic and eventually joining the Trump administration as health secretary.
According to Nye’s account, Kennedy sent numerous lengthy messages containing articles and studies speculating about connections between vaccines and autism, mercury in vaccines, and other vaccine safety concerns. The messages were described as containing few interruptions from Nye, creating what the magazine characterized as miles of one-sided text exchanges across multiple phone screens.
Nye initially responded diplomatically to Kennedy’s messages, indicating he would read Kennedy’s book while pointing out what he viewed as a fundamental logical error. He told Kennedy he believed the health secretary had confused causation with correlation in his reasoning about vaccine safety. However, Kennedy responded with additional lengthy messages containing more articles and claims.
The science educator then directly requested that Kennedy stop sending text messages. When Kennedy continued sending messages despite this request, Nye indicated he decided to cut off communication entirely. “He does not have good judgment,” Nye stated regarding Kennedy’s suitability for his current government position.
During the interview, Nye expressed frustration about current public health challenges, specifically referencing a measles outbreak in Texas affecting a religious community with historically low vaccination rates. He argued that vaccination requirements exist for public health protection rather than individual choice, emphasizing that unvaccinated individuals can typically spread diseases to others.
Nye also criticized Kennedy’s support for removing restrictions on unpasteurized milk consumption, referencing Louis Pasteur’s work establishing pasteurization as a critical food safety measure. He expressed particular concern about resistance to vaccines that prevent serious diseases like polio, noting his personal experience attending elementary school with someone who had contracted the disease.
The revelation comes amid Kennedy’s recent actions as health secretary, including his decision to remove all 17 members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine advisory committee. Kennedy replaced the panel with eight new appointees, several of whom gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic for criticizing government vaccine policies and mRNA vaccine technology.
Kennedy’s appointments to the vaccine advisory panel include individuals who have questioned COVID-19 vaccine safety and effectiveness. The committee, which typically consists of 19 members, provides recommendations to the CDC on vaccine use and policy. Medical organizations and public health groups have criticized Kennedy’s decision to replace the entire panel.
The Department of Health and Human Services has defended Kennedy’s leadership, with a spokesperson describing his work as leading an ambitious public health reform effort grounded in evidence and transparency. However, Kennedy’s tenure has been marked by controversy, including the release of a “Make America Healthy Again” report that cited nonexistent studies, which the White House later attributed to formatting errors.
Kennedy has also made changes to COVID-19 vaccine recommendations and canceled contracts related to flu virus research. Despite facing confirmation questions about his vaccine skepticism, Kennedy maintained during Senate hearings that he believes vaccines play a critical role in healthcare, though he has continued to question certain vaccine policies and recommendations.
Nye, who hosts the educational television program “Bill Nye the Science Guy” and serves as CEO of the Planetary Society, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Biden in January 2025. The 70-year-old science advocate has been a longtime proponent of evidence-based public health policies and vaccine safety.
The text message exchange highlights ongoing tensions between scientific consensus on vaccine safety and alternative viewpoints promoted by some government officials. Medical experts widely reject claims linking vaccines to autism, with numerous large-scale studies finding no credible evidence supporting such connections.
