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Actor Zachary Levi's previous right-leaning comments have resurfaced after he sparked backlash for agreeing with an anti-vaxx tweet about the pharmaceutical company Pfizer that referred to the vaccine maker as "a real danger to the world."
Levi said he "Hardcore agree[s]" with a tweet from anti-vaxx entrepreneur Lyndon Wood, who asked his followers if they "agree" that Pfizer is a "real danger to the world." Wood has previously come under fire for espousing anti-vaccine and anti-transgender rhetoric.
You can see his tweet below.
\u201cHardcore agree. \ud83d\ude10\u201d— Zachary Levi (@Zachary Levi) 1674977530
Levi's tweet came shortly after filmmaker James Gunn tweeted the latest trailer for the highly anticipated film, which is directed by David Sandberg.
\u201c#ShazamFuryOfTheGods new trailer!\u201d— James Gunn (@James Gunn) 1674756856
Levi's tweet received heavy criticism from fans who noted the Shazam! actor—whose leading role in the Shazam! sequel hits screens in a month and a half—is hurting the DC Studios brand with his tweet.
\u201c1. Stupid\n2. You have a movie coming out in like a month or two\u201d— Mr. Chau (@Mr. Chau) 1675025164
\u201cGunn looking at this after tweeting about the Shazam 2 trailer and only two days away from his announcement of his new DC slate:\u201d— Weird-O (@Weird-O) 1675017151
\u201cMarketing team for Shazam 2:\u201d— Cole Deller (@Cole Deller) 1675014535
\u201c\u201cI just threw a truck at my career, I love my life!\u201d\u201d— \ud835\udc0a\ud835\udc1a\ud835\udc26 \ud835\udc0a\ud835\udc1e\ud835\udc27\ud835\udc28\ud835\udc1b\ud835\udc22 \ud83d\udcab (@\ud835\udc0a\ud835\udc1a\ud835\udc26 \ud835\udc0a\ud835\udc1e\ud835\udc27\ud835\udc28\ud835\udc1b\ud835\udc22 \ud83d\udcab) 1675008982
\u201cHow to ensure you\u2019re not in the DC reboot in one tweet\u201d— KC Walsh (@KC Walsh) 1675012372
\u201cdc is thanking god that robert pattinson doesnt have social media rn\u201d— djsophie (@djsophie) 1675012643
Levi later attempted to clear the air somewhat by tweeting a link to a 2009 Justice Department settlement in which Pfizer had to pay $2.3 billion for misbranding and defrauding Medicare with its arthritis medicine Bextra.
However, he did not clarify further.
\u201cJust one example of what I\u2019m referring to\u2026\ud83d\ude14\n\nhttps://t.co/5xCpCSCDrl\u201d— Zachary Levi (@Zachary Levi) 1674984763
Levi's right-leaning comments became more visible to other social media users after people noted he once appeared on anti-vaxx conspiracy theorist Joe Rogan's program praising the right-wing provocateur and transphobe Jordan Peterson.
He also did not correct Rogan after Rogan misgendered the transgender actor and activist Elliot Page.
\u201cWhile everyone is dragging Zachary Levi for this, don't forget he was just one Rogan's show admiring a transphobe & didn't say a word when Rogan misgendered Elliot Page. He's scum.\n\nhttps://t.co/656kJbkVMa\u201d— Wolffe | \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f\ud83d\udc3a (@Wolffe | \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f\ud83d\udc3a) 1675000810
Which has only exposed him to further backlash.
\u201cWhy weren't you way more specific with your first tweet? Are you dense?\u201d— Chris! (@Chris!) 1675047503
\u201cWould it have killed you to word this Tweet better\u201d— Kronos (@Kronos) 1675020477
\u201cFirst you defend a transphobic pos, then you join the joe Rogan podcast and somehow make joe sound like the reasonable one, now you're anti vax. \n\nthis a career ending speedrun\u201d— Gwen / Nico \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f\ud83d\udc0a (@Gwen / Nico \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f\ud83d\udc0a) 1675025762
\u201cAt this point, why like anything anymore. The second you have hope for an actor not being trash, they either Up Down Side B'ing some woman or a transphobe.\u201d— Misa Sasekage (@Misa Sasekage) 1675011975
\u201cSigh here we go again\u201d— dilophosaurus xl (@dilophosaurus xl) 1675026799
\u201coh man, any man who listens to Jordan peterson just put them in the bin\u201d— Tyranny \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f (@Tyranny \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f) 1675022487
Levi is the latest member of the DC cinematic universe to become embroiled in controversy for espousing anti-vaxx views.
Ant-Man star Evangeline Lilly was also heavily criticized for her COVID-19 stance in 2020 after she refused to self-quarantine and claimed that she values "freedom over [her] life." She later took part in a march against COVID-19 vaccine mandates in Washington, D.C.
But the Marvel cinematic universe has had its fair share of troubles too, as in 2020, when Black Panther star Letitia Wright generated backlash for sharing a YouTube video that questioned the legitimacy of the COVID-19 vaccine and accused China of spreading COVID-19, amongst other controversial statements.