Larry David satirizes Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s anti-vaccine stance in HBO series
In the closing sketch of his new HBO miniseries, Larry David portrays a character who derides a fictionalized version of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for opposing vaccinations, reflecting the show's broader commentary on historical and current public-health debates.
Larry David used the final sketch of his HBO series "Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness" to lampoon a character modeled after health activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The scene features a mother bragging about her son Jonas Salk’s role in eradicating polio, while a neighbor named "Bobby" claims vaccines will kill people and vows to stop childhood immunizations if he were in charge. David’s character responds with a harsh rebuke, calling the neighbor ignorant and wishing him a "dog’s death."
The sketch also alludes to past statements by Kennedy that linked COVID-19 policies to Nazi Germany and suggested the virus was engineered to avoid certain ethnic groups. David, who previously introduced Kennedy to his wife Cheryl Hines, has reportedly distanced himself from the activist following Kennedy’s 2024 presidential campaign and his involvement with the Trump administration. In a text exchange, David acknowledged Kennedy’s claim of support from friends but said he was not "supporting" him.
Co-creator Jeff Schaffer told Variety that the series aims to examine current issues through a historical perspective, noting the prevalence of vaccine misinformation. The show has previously targeted other figures associated with the Trump administration, including a recent jab at director Rob Reiner.