Robert De Niro appeared on the Today Show and discussed the film “Vaxxed,” which he encouraged everyone to see. Photo courtesy of Today Show.

by Brian Shilhavy
Editor, Health Impact News

Academy Award winning actor Robert De Niro appeared on the Today Show this morning (4/13/16) to discuss the beginning of the Tribeca Film Festival. De Niro appeared with Tribeca co-founder Jane Rosenthal.

De Niro defended his original decision to include the film “Vaxxed” in the film festival, which was later reversed, and encouraged everyone to see the film, as well as another film called “Trace Amounts.” He expressed regret at having to exclude the film, but stated he did not want the Festival affected by the controversy.

Jane Rosthenthal, the co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival, then made the shocking statement that the film was pulled from the film festival not because of pressure from sponsors, but because other film-makers threatened to pull out of the festival:

There weren’t sponsors or donors that were threatening to pull out of the film festival, but these were film makers, and we’re known for having amazing documentary films… It was our film makers that were pulling out.

De Niro replied:

I find that amazing, and we’re going to talk about that.

In defense of the film industry and freedom of speech, De Niro went on to state:

All I wanted, was for the movie to be seen. People can make their own judgement, but you must see it.

The “Science is Settled” Straw-man Argument

As is typical with mainstream media’s coverage of the vaccine issue, the assumption that “the science is settled” when it comes to vaccines, and that scientists all agree that they do not cause autism, was presented to De Niro who responded:

I believe it is much more complicated than that… Let’s just find out the truth.

Indeed, is that not the job of journalism and the press? To not take sides on an issue but investigate both sides? Is there anything in life where “the science is settled,” or do good science and research continually uncover new facts that cause us to sometimes change our perspective on what we thought was true?

There are in fact many doctors and many scientists who are not vaccine extremists, holding the position that “the science is settled” in regards to vaccines. We have documented many of these scientists and doctors here at Health Impact News, since their voices are mainly silenced in the mainstream media. See:

Medical Doctors Opposed to Forced Vaccinations – Should Their Views be Silenced?

One of these scientists actually works for the CDC, and is a whistleblower. His story is the focal point of the movie Vaxxed. He allegedly wants to testify before Congress, but no hearing has been scheduled since his story broke in 2014.

The “Parents will not Vaccinate Their Children” Argument

The next common mainstream media argument that was presented to De Niro was:

The worry is that people who hear those words and wonder about it (safety of vaccines) will then not have their child vaccinated, which has led to a higher incidence of things like mumps and measles…

De Niro questioned the validity of that claim, as well he should!

First of all, vaccine compliance is at an all-time high in the United States, with a much higher percentage of children vaccinated than probably ever before. Secondly, many of these vaccines are being proven to be ineffective, with many children who are fully vaccinated contracting the disease that the vaccine was supposed to offer protection against.

It also assumes that parents are not intelligent enough to examine the facts and make up their own minds regarding medical decisions for their children.

Death to freedom of speech in the United States to anything regarding vaccine safety, because as we all know, “the science is settled.”

Watch the full interview at The Today Show.

Comment on this story at VaccineImpact.com