“Drop dead, Bobby. You should die a dog’s death. You don’t know anything about science, you’re not a doctor.”
minute read
Comedian Larry David appeared to tell Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr to “drop dead” in the latest episode of HBO’s sketch comedy series “Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness.”
The show, produced by former President Barack Obama, featured David in the latest episode dressed in drag as Dora Salk, the mother of polio vaccine inventor Jonas Salk. As Jonas Salk worked to develop the polio vaccine, a neighbor named “Bobby” repeatedly warned that the vaccine would harm people.
“That vaccine’s gonna kill people. It’s gonna give them heart attacks!” Bobby said.
David, as Salk’s mother, responds, “Drop dead, Bobby. You should die a dog’s death. You don’t know anything about science, you’re not a doctor.”
Bobby replied by saying that if he were in charge, then he would “make sure that no kids took that vaccine,” including for measles.
“If you were in charge, God help us all! If some idiot, some moron, ever put you in charge, that would be a dark day for humanity,” David’s character responded.
The scene was an obvious parody of RFK Jr, who has long voiced concerns about certain vaccines and their potential side effects. Since becoming Health and Human Services secretary, Kennedy has continued to face scrutiny over some of his views, though he has stated that he is not opposed to all vaccines and supports informed consent.
The jab against Kennedy also comes despite David’s previous personal connection to Kennedy. Kennedy’s wife, actress Cheryl Hines, played David’s ex-wife throughout 12 seasons of the show “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” David also reportedly introduced Hines and Kennedy.
According to TMZ, Hines has previously stated that she and David stopped speaking after the show because “Bobby’s in the administration.”