Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. shared a photograph on social media featuring a lizard, comedian Russell Brand and a shirtless Dr Mehmet Oz. Kennedy posted the image on X with the caption: “Northern Curly Tailed Lizard with Russel Brand & Dr Oz.” The photo shows Brand with his arm around the other two, all smiling.
The trio have longstanding connections. Brand endorsed Kennedy’s independent presidential campaign last year. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump nominated Oz to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a role in which he would work closely with Kennedy.
All three have been criticised for spreading health misinformation online. Kennedy is an anti-vaccine activist who has promoted baseless claims linking vaccines to autism and suggested COVID-19 was a “bioweapon”. He has denied being anti-vaccine, stating during his Senate confirmation hearing: “I am pro-safety.”
Oz used his television show to promote dubious medical advice, including falsely claiming hydroxychloroquine could treat COVID-19. The FDA and WHO have deemed it unsafe for that purpose. Brand has also spread conspiracy theories about COVID-19 vaccines, the war in Ukraine and climate change.
Brand has additionally faced allegations of sexual assault from four women, relating to incidents between 2006 and 2013. He has denied the claims, asserting all his relationships were consensual.
