Robert DeNiro pulls VAXXED documentary from Tribeca amidst intense external pressure

[Guestx]

So this kind of pisses me off. A new documentary is on the way about the question of whether or not vaccinations can be linked to autism.

According to Fortune:

Vaxxed focuses on a scientist, William Thompson, who claims to be a whistleblower and confessed that “the CDC had omitted crucial data in their final report that revealed a causal relationship between the MMR vaccine and autism.” The film, produced by Del Bigtree (producer of the daytime show The Doctors) focuses on Thompson’s conspiracy theory, which claims that the CDC hid results that would implicate the vaccines in causing autism in a small subset of African Americans.

DeNiro, who is a co-founder of the Tribeca film festival, and who has an autistic son, intended to show the film and released this statement:

“Grace and I have a child with autism and we believe it is critical that all of the issues surrounding the causes of autism be openly discussed and examined. In the 15 years since the Tribeca Film Festival was founded, I have never asked for a film to be screened or gotten involved in the programming. However this is very personal to me and my family and I want there to be a discussion, which is why we will be screening VAXXED. I am not personally endorsing the film, nor am I anti-vaccination; I am only providing the opportunity for a conversation around the issue.”

However, the decision was viciously attacked by the media, by the medical establishment, and even by other filmmakers. DeNiro has since decided to pull the film from the festival.

Fortune reports:

Under pressure, late Saturday night, De Niro pulled the film, stating, “…after reviewing it over the past few days with the Tribeca Film Festival team and others from the scientific community, we do not believe it contributes to or furthers the discussion I had hoped for.”

That's bullshit. I'm not even anti-vaxx, but I just hate to see someone bludgeoned into submission like that, creating an atmosphere where controversial questions simply cannot be asked and information cannot be presented.

Trailer:

 

[tehend]

Peer pressure is a bitch but he never struck me as someone who would cave.

 

[Jkaylor]

Those illuminati threats tho... Who knows what kind of dirt somebody in power has and is using to blackmail him

 

[Joseph Budden]

Maybe those people who talked to DeNiro have seen it and know its a bunch of bull shit and/or propaganda? Not enough facts or information here.

 

[the muntjac]

He should have responded with, "You talkin' to me? I don't see anybody else around, so you must be talking to me." And then blow them away Travis Bickle style.

 

[Guestx]

Maybe those people who talked to DeNiro have seen it and know its a bunch of bull shit and/or propaganda? Not enough facts or information here.

People use the term "propaganda" like it's always a bad thing. Anything that pushes a cause is propaganda. That doesn't mean the information isn't truthful or the cause isn't just.

As for the rest of your statement, for one, I think it should take more time to convince someone of that, and for another, quite frankly, he should give the viewers the chance to decide on their own, especially since the film was already booked.

 

[Guestx]

The filmmakers respond:

Andrew Wakefield, the director, and Del Bigtree, the producer, released a statement, saying, “We were denied due process. We have just witnessed yet another example of the power of corporate interests censoring free speech, art, and truth. Tribeca’s action will not succeed in denying the world access to the truth behind the film Vaxxed.”

 

[Joseph Budden]

People use "propaganda" like it's always a bad thing. Anything that pushes a cause is propaganda. That doesn't mean the information isn't truthful or the cause isn't just.

As for the rest of your statement, for one, I think it should take more time to convince someone of that, and for another, quite frankly, he should give the viewers the chance to decide on their own, especially since the film was already booked.

I mean, the literal definition of propaganda is using info in a biased or misleading manner.....

Like I said, its easy to sit here and say 'let the viewers decide', but there is basically no info whatsoever other than "Deniro wanted to show a film, a bunch of people urged him not to, so hes not". So its kind of hard to form an opinion on the matter

 

[JAEGERX]

Vaccines are a business of hundreds of millions of dollars, obviously they are not gonna permit some documentary on it, too much to lose, freedom of speech lasts only until you cross the money line

 

[Guestx]

I mean, the literal definition of propaganda is using info in a biased or misleading manner.....

That's A definition. It's not THE definition. I can use Google, too. How about this alternative: "Propaganda is the spreading of information in support of a cause."

In many causes it is bullshit. But merely pushing a viewpoint does not make you wrong. But in any case, semantics.

Like I said, its easy to sit here and say 'let the viewers decide', but there is basically no info whatsoever other than "Deniro wanted to show a film, a bunch of people urged him not to, so hes not". So its kind of hard to form an opinion on the matter

Well I agree that there is obviously more to the story than what we know.

 

[BisexualMMA]

I don't know shit about this movie. But is it just 120 minutes of science denialism that is going to make the world less healthy?

 

[Thai Otoshi]

I don't know shit about this movie. But is it just 120 minutes of science denialism that is going to make the world less healthy?

That's exactly what it is...

 

[Deleted member 196663]

That's bullshit. I'm not even anti-vaxx, but I just hate to see someone bludgeoned into submission like that, creating an atmosphere where controversial questions simply cannot be asked and information cannot be presented.

I agree with your point, but it's possible the movie just sucks. And it's easier to withstand pressure when you're standing behind something worth defending. Maybe this wasn't worth it.

 

[Guestx]

I don't know shit about this movie. But is it just 120 minutes of science denialism that is going to make the world less healthy?

I think that's the question at hand.

 

[Guestx]

I agree with your point, but it's possible the movie just sucks. And it's easier to withstand pressure when you're standing behind something worth defending. Maybe this wasn't worth it.

Maybe. But DeNiro would have already seen it well in advance to actually allow it in the festival.

I say let the people see it and then fight it out in the streets.

 

[Dizzy]

I don't know shit about this movie. But is it just 120 minutes of science denialism that is going to make the world less healthy?

Sounds like it.

Fuck em

 

[BisexualMMA]

Did they interview Jenny McCarthy, PhD?

 

[Guestx]

Sounds like it.

Fuck em

Shouldn't you assess the information objectively first?

 

[Dizzy]

Shouldn't you assess the information objectively first?

I've seen plenty of information on this topic.

You'd have to be a fucking idiot not to vaccinate your kids and spreading bullshit "science" around like this is as reckless as you can get.

I like the approach Australia has taken to try and stamp this shit out. You don't vaccinate your kids when they're perfectly able to be? No government benefits for you.

 

[Thai Otoshi]

Shouldn't you assess the information objectively first?

There is no peer reviewed information Robert Fucking Deniro managed to drum up that can somehow discredit the entire medical industry's consensus that vaccines have no known link to autism. It's all imaginary buillshit. You know what not taking vaccines WILL cause?

The ENTIRE movement was started by a now disgraced former doctor who was trying to defraud vaccines so he could sell his own vaccine. If it wasn't for whackjob Oprah giving idiots like Jenny McCarthy a platform to spout their Google Fu broscience, we wouldn't even be having this conversaton.