'Woody Harrelson's Surprising Bid for RFK Jr. Sparks Controversy'

Actor Woody Harrelson appears to endorse Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for the 2024 presidential race, sparking mixed responses.

Actor Woody Harrelson made an appearance on Thursday seemingly endorsing a presidential candidate for the 2024 election. In an Instagram photo posted by his wife, Cheryl Hines, Harrelson can be seen wearing a hat that reads "Kennedy 2024," indicating his support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is challenging President Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination.

However, Kennedy's anti-vaccine views have garnered mixed responses to Harrelson's endorsement. While Kennedy has become a prominent figure in the anti-vaccine movement, his stance contradicts the opinions of government agencies and public health experts who emphasize the importance of vaccination. His work has been labeled as dangerous by health experts, and even members of his own family have criticized him for spreading misinformation.

Hines' Instagram post received significant attention, accumulating over 15,000 likes and 1,000 comments. Among the comments were both support and criticism for Harrelson's endorsement. Some users equated Kennedy's campaign to supporting former President Donald Trump, while others expressed disappointment in Harrelson's political alignment. However, there were also users who showed support for Hines without endorsing Kennedy's presidential bid.

Harrelson himself has previously expressed skepticism towards COVID vaccine mandates during his hosting of "Saturday Night Live." In his opening monologue, he described himself as an "anarchist, Marxist, ethical hedonist, nondiscriminatory empath, epistemology deconstructionist, Texan," highlighting his complex and multifaceted political beliefs.

Kennedy's criticisms of the government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccines have been met with controversy. He has faced accusations of spreading misinformation, resulting in the temporary suspension of his Instagram account. Kennedy has made statements comparing the impact of lockdowns to the experiences of Anne Frank during the Holocaust, which he later apologized for. This was not the first time he had faced backlash for comparing vaccines to the Holocaust, as he used the term "Holocaust" in 2015 to describe children he believed were harmed by vaccines.

In a recent event, Kennedy also spread a conspiracy theory that received criticism from organizations advocating for Jewish and Asian communities. He claimed that COVID-19 was "ethnically targeted," suggesting it disproportionately affected Caucasians and Black people while sparing Ashkenazi Jewish people and Chinese people. The term "Ashkenazi" refers to Jewish people whose ancestors lived in parts of Europe, and it is important to note that the majority of American Jews identify as Ashkenazi.

Overall, Harrelson's endorsement of Kennedy has sparked a range of reactions, reflecting the divisive nature of Kennedy's anti-vaccine views and controversial statements. While some support Harrelson and Hines, others express disappointment and concern over the potential implications of a Kennedy presidency. The intersection of celebrity endorsements and political campaigns continues to be a topic of discussion and debate.