Weinstein repeated discredited theories to Rogan about HIV not being the cause of AIDS, alarming and infuriating public health experts.

Weinstein repeated discredited theories to Rogan about HIV not being the cause of AIDS, alarming and infuriating public health experts.  

Bret Weinstein, the evolutionary biology professor turned podcaster and ivermectin guy, repeated a series of discredited pseudo-theories about AIDS in a recent appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast. Weinstein, a frequent guest, told Rogan that he found the theory that party drugs like poppers cause AIDS to be “surprisingly compelling.” (It is not.) Weinstein also told Rogan he came to these ideas by reading a recent book by anti-vaccine activist and presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, creating a sort of unholy turducken of misinformation passed onto an audience of millions. 

  • partial_accumen@lemmy.worldEnglish
    531·
    9 months ago

    he found the theory that party drugs like poppers cause AIDS to be “surprisingly compelling.”

    What does he mean with this? Is he claiming that AIDS isn’t caused by the HIV virus, or is he claiming that poppers (the chemical amyl nitrate) when consumed by a human causes the spontaneous creation of the HIV virus inside the person?

    Neither of those makes sense.

    • surewhynotlem@lemmy.worldEnglish
      351·
      9 months ago

      I think he’s saying that last time he got high off poppers he had unprotected butt sex with a known infected partner.

      It’s the only logical conclusion.

    • ashok36@lemmy.worldEnglish
      14·
      9 months ago

      The most generous interpretation is he’s saying drugs suppress the immune system so drug use causes AIDS. This would be fairly falsifiable if we had data showing non drug users also develop AIDS and… Oh wait we have fuck loads of evidence showing that and Weinstein proves himself an idiot. Again.

      • Meowoem@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        25·
        9 months ago

        Please, can you point to a single person that’s ever got aids without doing poppers?

        Ha see I knew you couldn’t, that’s literally hundreds of millions of people you’re pointing at and I said a single person, I win again lefty!!!

    • Jaytreeman@kbin.social
      132·
      9 months ago

      Haven’t listened. Haven’t read.
      AIDS is the Acquired ImmunoDeficiency Syndrome.
      The most charitable take is he’s saying HIV isn’t the only way to acquire it.
      Personally, I gave a lot of charity to rogan between 2014 & 2020. I don’t have any charity left for either of those racist xenophobic cucks