A-List Celebs Who Don’t Support Vaccine Mandates

As a huge fan of movies and sports, I really noticed how much the vaccine mandates during the pandemic split things up. You had a lot of famous people urging everyone to get vaccinated and follow the rules, which was understandable given the situation. But then you also had some really prominent figures – actors, athletes, you name it – who were strongly against being told to get the vaccine. They usually talked about wanting to make their own choices about their health and bodies. I’ve put together a list of some of the well-known people who publicly came out against the mandates, just so you can see where everyone stood.

Kyrie Irving

During the 2021 NBA season, Kyrie Irving became well-known for opposing rules requiring players to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Because of New York City’s rules for indoor events, the Brooklyn Nets star couldn’t play in home games and reportedly lost a significant amount of money as a result. Irving explained his decision was about individual liberty and supporting people who lost their jobs due to vaccine requirements. This situation led to a broad discussion across the league about players’ rights and the responsibility to protect public health.

Aaron Rodgers

Aaron Rodgers sparked controversy when he admitted he hadn’t been vaccinated, despite earlier implying he had. The NFL quarterback argued the league unfairly targeted unvaccinated players, creating a system that publicly shamed them. He often used ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ as a platform to share his doubts about the league’s health rules, emphasizing his belief in individual choice regarding health and challenging the reasoning behind the mandates. This made him a divisive figure in sports during the pandemic.

Woody Harrelson

Woody Harrelson has been outspoken about what he sees as overly strict safety rules and requirements in the film industry. He used a controversial sketch on ‘Saturday Night Live’ to suggest that pharmaceutical companies are pushing unnecessary control, and later shared his frustrations in interviews about the rigid regulations on movie sets. Harrelson believes these mandatory rules don’t make sense and violate people’s freedoms. He continues to be a leading critic of how Hollywood handled the pandemic.

Ice Cube

Ice Cube turned down a potential $9 million role in the movie ‘Oh Hell No’ because the production required everyone on set to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The rapper and actor confirmed he chose to leave the film rather than get the vaccine, stating he was okay with losing the money to stand by his principles. This situation demonstrated how seriously major film studios were enforcing their health and safety rules.

Evangeline Lilly

Evangeline Lilly joined a protest in Washington D.C., voicing her support for the idea of individuals having control over their own healthcare decisions – what she called ‘medical sovereignty.’ The actress, known for her role in ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp,’ shared photos from the rally and explained she believes everyone should have the freedom to decide what, if anything, is injected into their body. Her participation in the anti-vaccine mandate event drew criticism from fans and colleagues. Lilly maintained that public fear was being used to control people, and clarified her position was about the right to make personal choices, not a rejection of scientific principles.

Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj sparked a lot of online discussion after sharing her concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine and the rules for attending the Met Gala. She explained that a friend of a relative in Trinidad experienced negative side effects, which led her to do more research. Health experts around the world disagreed with Minaj’s claims, pointing out they were based on a single story. Minaj responded by saying she wouldn’t be pressured into getting vaccinated if she didn’t feel ready, and she used her large social media platform to raise questions about why people were being pushed to make medical decisions they weren’t comfortable with.

Joe Rogan

Joe Rogan frequently used his podcast to raise questions about whether vaccine requirements were truly necessary for people who were young and in good health. He believed that the potential benefits of natural immunity and other treatments weren’t being adequately considered by health experts. Rogan often featured guests with views that differed from the widely accepted understanding of the pandemic, which led to criticism from some doctors and calls for his show to be restricted. However, he defended his right to allow open discussion and became a key figure in the broader public conversation about mandates and the role of the media.

Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton strongly opposed performing at venues that required proof of vaccination. The famous guitarist released songs reflecting his anger about lockdowns and what he saw as excessive government control. He shared his own bad reaction to the vaccine, which fueled his doubts about vaccine requirements. Clapton explained he wouldn’t play shows where some people were excluded based on their vaccination status. While this upset some fans, it strengthened his support among those who opposed mandates.

Van Morrison

Van Morrison wrote several songs protesting government lockdowns and health rules. The singer, originally from Northern Ireland, argued that these measures stripped people of basic freedoms while claiming to protect them. He teamed up with Eric Clapton on a song that reinforced their opposition to these rules. Morrison faced criticism from officials in Northern Ireland for speaking out through his music, but he continued to believe that people should be able to attend live concerts regardless of their health status.

Letitia Wright

As a big movie fan, I was really surprised to hear about the issues Letitia Wright faced during the making of ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’. Apparently, there were reports she was sharing views questioning the COVID-19 vaccine, stemming from a video she’d posted online. It caused a lot of controversy, and she even stepped away from social media for a while. She did say she didn’t hold up filming, but she kept her personal vaccination decisions private. It just highlighted how tricky things can be when what a studio needs clashes with someone’s own beliefs – it’s a tough situation for everyone involved.

Kid Rock

Kid Rock released the song ‘Don’t Tell Me How To Live’ to protest what he saw as unfair media coverage and rules, particularly regarding COVID-19. He announced he would cancel concerts at any venue requiring vaccines or masks. He presented himself as a champion of American freedoms and the right to express opinions. To avoid venues with strict COVID-19 rules, he intentionally chose tour locations in cities with fewer restrictions. Throughout the pandemic, Kid Rock consistently spoke out against the government’s response.

Russell Brand

During the pandemic, Russell Brand changed the focus of his YouTube channel to criticize what he saw as excessive government power. The comedian raised questions about whether rules and regulations were effective and suggested pharmaceutical companies were driven by profit. He believed these rules were more about control than protecting people, and he stressed the need to question official information and defend our freedoms. His views attracted a large audience who were already distrustful of traditional news sources.

Rob Schneider

Rob Schneider was a vocal opponent of vaccine requirements and the CDC on Twitter. The actor, known for ‘Deuce Bigalow,’ argued that sacrificing freedoms for the sake of safety was a dangerous trade-off. He publicly criticized schools and government leaders for requiring masks and vaccinations for children, and encouraged his followers to fight against what he called oppressive medical practices. His consistent online activism made him a well-known voice in the movement against mandates.

Zachary Levi

Zachary Levi, known for his role in ‘Shazam!’, shared a tweet suggesting concerns about Pfizer, leading some to believe he thought the company was harmful. He later explained his views on Instagram Live, mentioning his father’s health experiences. Levi emphasized that people should be able to make their own healthcare decisions freely, without being pressured. He also criticized the limited discussion surrounding the safety and justification of health mandates. His comments led to a conversation about whether actors have a duty to promote public health initiatives.

Matthew McConaughey

Matthew McConaughey has spoken out against requiring young children to get the COVID-19 vaccine. While he himself is vaccinated, he believes it’s too early to mandate it for kids, stating that we need more information before making such a rule. He wants to base decisions on scientific evidence but feels a mandate goes too far. This position puts him apart from those who are strongly opposed to vaccines altogether.

Elon Musk

Elon Musk has spoken out against government vaccine mandates, even though he and his family have been vaccinated. As CEO of Tesla, he believes these mandates threaten personal freedom and criticized California’s lockdown policies. Musk argues that getting vaccinated should be a personal decision, not something required by the government. He’s used social media to question why everyone should be forced to comply and even suggested moving Tesla’s headquarters out of California because of the state’s strict rules.

Grimes

Grimes expressed support for vaccines but strongly opposed requiring people to get them. She said she believes in the right to make your own decisions about medical treatment, even if you’re vaccinated, and worries that forcing vaccinations could lead to problems in the future. Her comments made it clear she supports vaccines but doesn’t believe they should be mandatory. While some fans disagreed with her, she stood firm in her belief in personal freedom.

John Stockton

John Stockton, the NBA Hall of Famer, lost his Gonzaga University basketball season tickets because he wouldn’t wear a mask. He had previously spoken out against vaccines and even appeared in a film raising concerns about their safety, claiming some athletes had experienced negative side effects. Stockton stated he wouldn’t follow rules he felt were damaging or illegal. Gonzaga University responded by enforcing its health guidelines, despite Stockton’s legendary status.

Sarah Palin

Former Governor Sarah Palin recently tested positive for COVID-19 shortly after eating at a New York City restaurant while unvaccinated. She had previously and publicly stated her opposition to the vaccine. Palin also spoke out against the city’s rule requiring proof of vaccination for indoor dining, seeing it as a violation of her rights. City officials responsible for health regulations strongly criticized her decision to dine indoors unvaccinated.

Travis Tritt

Country music star Travis Tritt has cancelled shows at venues requiring proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 tests. He explained that he doesn’t want to support businesses that he believes discriminate against fans based on their health choices. Tritt is encouraging other artists to do the same and is continuing to perform only in cities and venues that don’t have these requirements, framing his decision as a defense of freedom and against what he sees as unfair segregation.

Jason Aldean

Jason Aldean protested California’s school vaccine requirements after they impacted his children’s education. He believes parents, not the government, should decide about vaccinations. He publicly backed his wife, Brittany, who also opposed the rules. Aldean’s music often resonated with fans who felt left out by current cultural and political trends. Ultimately, he said his biggest priority was ensuring his family could make their own choices.

Jim Breuer

Comedian Jim Breuer canceled many of his upcoming shows because the venues required proof of vaccination. Breuer, who used to be on ‘Saturday Night Live,’ said he didn’t want to exclude anyone from his audience. In videos online, he explained that he believed these rules were forcing people to make choices they weren’t comfortable with, and he likened the situation to past instances of unfair treatment and oppression. As a result, he decided to perform only at smaller locations without those restrictions.

Doutzen Kroes

Doutzen Kroes shared a detailed post on Instagram explaining her refusal to get vaccinated, stating she wouldn’t share her personal health information as a requirement for participating in public life. She believes everyone has the right to make their own choices about their body and to express their views freely, and feels these rights are at risk. Despite criticism from the fashion world, Kroes has remained firm in her stance, urging her followers to defend their own personal boundaries.

Gina Carano

Gina Carano publicly disagreed with how the pandemic was handled and the politics around rules like mask and vaccine mandates. She shared content online that raised doubts about how well masks and vaccines worked. This, combined with her differing views from most in Hollywood, led to her being fired by Disney. Carano believed she was being targeted because of her political opinions and her unwillingness to follow the crowd. After losing her role with Disney, she continued working with smaller media companies that supported her views on free speech.

Chet Hanks

Chet Hanks, son of Tom Hanks, recently shared a video that quickly went viral. He started by seeming to support vaccines, but then abruptly changed his tone, claiming the virus was no more serious than the flu and that vaccine requirements were pointless. He suggested that only vulnerable people should isolate themselves, while everyone else should continue living normally. Hanks explained he didn’t want to interfere with his body’s natural defenses just to follow rules. The video, delivered with a lot of energy, sparked a lot of discussion online.

Anwar Hadid

During an Instagram question session, Anwar Hadid said he definitely wouldn’t get the COVID-19 vaccine. He explained he’d rather let his body fight off any infection naturally, stating he wasn’t worried about the virus and didn’t want to be pressured into a medical choice. Hadid believes the body is designed to heal itself without needing help. His statements led to discussions about how celebrities can affect people’s views on health.

Richard Ashcroft

Richard Ashcroft cancelled his appearance at the Tramlines Festival when it was chosen as a test event for vaccine passports. The former Verve singer said he didn’t want to play a show that required the government to track attendees. He believed the festival organizers were ignoring the benefits of natural immunity and individual liberty. Ashcroft has consistently spoken out against the pandemic-era testing and tracking systems, and he didn’t want to be part of what he saw as a discriminatory practice.

Steve Burton

Steve Burton, who played Jason Morgan on ‘General Hospital’ for many years, was let go after he didn’t follow the show’s rule requiring employees to be vaccinated. He said he asked for exemptions for both medical and religious reasons, but they weren’t approved. Burton explained he couldn’t agree with the rule, even though he enjoyed his work on the show. He has since joined the cast of ‘Days of Our Lives’.

Ingo Rademacher

Ingo Rademacher sued ABC after losing his job on ‘General Hospital’ because he wouldn’t get vaccinated. The actor believed the vaccine requirement was illegal and an invasion of his personal privacy. Before he was fired, Rademacher had publicly spoken out against these types of mandates online. He claimed the process for requesting a religious exemption was unfair and meant to pressure employees into getting vaccinated. His lawsuit highlighted the legal issues surrounding what employers can require of their workers.

Rockmond Dunbar

Rockmond Dunbar left the popular show ‘9-1-1’ after Disney denied his requests for exemptions from a vaccine mandate, based on both medical and religious grounds. Dunbar clarified he wasn’t against vaccines, but was following the advice of his doctors and faith. He then sued Disney, claiming he was unfairly fired for asserting his legal rights. His exit highlighted the strict policies major studios were enforcing at the time.

Laura Osnes

Broadway actress Laura Osnes left a Hamptons performance of ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ because of a rule requiring performers to be vaccinated. While she said she wasn’t fired, Osnes confirmed she chose to withdraw, wanting to gather more information before getting vaccinated for herself and her family. This decision caused a strong negative reaction from many in the theater world, but Osnes felt she was being unfairly criticized for a private health decision.

Samaire Armstrong

Samaire Armstrong, known for her role in ‘The O.C.’, became actively involved in political issues, particularly opposing mandates and school policies. She used social media to share her views, participated in California protests, and even ran for local office, advocating for personal medical freedom. Armstrong believed the government was overreaching and interfering with families’ healthcare choices, and she called for a return to pre-pandemic life and the removal of emergency powers. This shift represented a major change from her career as an actress to one of political commentary.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

As a movie lover, I’ve always been fascinated by stories of people taking on powerful systems, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. definitely became a central figure in the fight against vaccine mandates. He started an organization called Children’s Health Defense and really pushed back on the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines, writing books and holding events to get his message out. He believed these mandates weren’t just about public health, but part of a bigger conspiracy involving government and drug companies. It got him banned from most social media platforms, which labeled his claims as misinformation. But even with that, he managed to inspire a really strong, organized opposition to these mandates all over the world.

Share your thoughts on how these celebrities handled the mandate controversy in the comments.

2026-01-19 22:21