Liam Neeson Faces Backlash Over Anti-Vaccine Documentary Narration, Denies Anti-Vax Views

Oscar-nominated actor Liam Neeson is facing intense criticism after his involvement in a controversial anti-vaccine documentary was revealed this week, prompting the star to clarify his stance on vaccination through his representatives. The film, "Plague of Corruption: 80 Years of Pharmaceutical Corruption Exposed," features Neeson as narrator and has drawn widespread condemnation from public health advocates and fans alike. The documentary, first reported by the Important Context newsletter on Thursday, positions itself as an exposé on pharmaceutical industry corruption but includes interviews with prominent vaccine skeptics and promotes debunked claims about COVID-19 vaccines. In the documentary, Neeson reportedly describes mRNA COVID-19 vaccines as "dangerous experiments," refers to mainstream scientists as "fanatics," and criticizes pandemic lockdowns. At one point, he states, "Thousands of lives were lost, not to the virus, but to the mental anguish brought on by these harsh restrictions." The film is based on a 2021 book co-authored by Dr. Judy Mikovits, a disgraced former scientist who gained notoriety during the COVID pandemic for claiming the virus was caused by a bad strain of flu vaccine, and attorney Kent Heckenlively, who was previously denied a visa to Australia over his "dangerous" views. Heckenlively has also co-authored books with far-right radio host Alex Jones and serves as the film's executive producer. The documentary features an interview with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the current U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services under Donald Trump, who is praised for his "relentless courage in challenging institutional corruption." Kennedy, a known vaccine skeptic, founded the anti-vaccine group Children's Health Defense, which published the book on which the film is based. Neeson's participation has drawn particular scrutiny given his role as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2011. Just three years ago, the actor praised vaccines as one of the "biggest collective achievements in human history," making his involvement in the anti-vaccine documentary appear contradictory to his previous statements. In response to the backlash, Neeson's representative issued a statement to Entertainment Weekly emphasizing that the actor "never has been, and is not, anti-vaccination." The statement clarified that while the documentary examines corruption within the pharmaceutical industry, Neeson's involvement should not be interpreted as agreement with anti-vaccine messaging. "Corruption can exist in any industry, but that should never be conflated with opposition to vaccines," the representative said, noting that Neeson's participation focused on exposing corporate malfeasance rather than promoting vaccine skepticism. The film's website describes it as "an explosive investigation into how pharmaceutical giants systematically captured governments and deceived families and communities worldwide." However, medical experts and critics have condemned the documentary for featuring discredited scientific claims and promoting vaccine hesitancy. Heckenlively recently celebrated Neeson's participation on social media, posting: "Liam Neeson for the win. Aslan is on our side!" - a reference to the actor's role as the lion Aslan in "The Chronicles of Narnia" films. The controversy highlights the ongoing tension between legitimate criticism of pharmaceutical industry practices and the spread of vaccine misinformation. While corporate accountability remains important, public health advocates worry that high-profile endorsements of anti-vaccine content could undermine vaccination efforts and public health initiatives. As the documentary continues to generate attention, Neeson's representatives maintain that his involvement should not be seen as an endorsement of anti-vaccination views, despite the film's clear anti-vaccine messaging and the backgrounds of its key contributors.