Actor’s ‘shameless’ message after NBA icon dies aged 58

Hollywood star Rob Schneider has sparked a storm with an insensitive conspiracy theory claim over the death of an NBA legend.

Actor Rob Schneider has been criticised for his bizarre and insensitive COVID-themed message after the NBA announced the death of Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo

The NBA was mourning the death of the 58-year-old with legends of the sport sending classy messages to honour the iconic shot-blocker.

Then Schneider posted a very different kind of message.

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The New York Post reports Schneider dug up a 2021 tweet from Mutombo calling for individuals to be vaccinated during the pandemic and quote tweeted an anti-vaccination message while somehow insinuating the vaccination played a role in Mutombo’s death.

Dikembe Mutombo and Rob Schneider.

“Rest in Peace… I’m sure this is just (another) coincidence,” Schenider tweeted. “But I took a pass on the Jab and I’m gonna not let anyone I know (and who will Listen) get it either!”

Schneider is vocal about his stance on vaccinations and the sort on his Twitter page, but it’s unclear why he used the beloved big man’s death as a reason to tweet anti-vaccination points.

Mutombo, who spent 18 seasons in the NBA, spoke in the 2021 video about the importance of wearing masks and individuals doing what they can to help society moving forward.

Schneider’s comment certainly caused a stir with his post generating 4.7 million views as of Tuesday morning and the top comments ripping Adam Sandler’s buddy.

One post read: “Wow. Ambulance chaser celebration another human’s death from cancer.

Shame on you.”

Another commented: “He had brain cancer you absolute imbecile.”

The “Deuce Bigalow: Male Jigolo” actor seemingly fired back at his detractors Tuesday morning alongside an anti-vaccination video.

Dikembe Mutombo died of brain cancer at the age of 58. Photo by Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images.

“Dear Fake Outrage Warriors, Save your anger for the liars who promised the jab was the only cure, that if you took it you wouldn’t ‘get covid or give it: Biden/Harris,Fauci,Maddow, Pfizer, your liberal media, the cowardly teachers union,masking 2 yr olds, Govs who closed schools,” he posted.

“Here’s some of the real heroes during covid; Dr. Peter Kory. Dr. Robert Malone and Senator Ron Johnson, Mary Holland. These are people that stood up against the lying medical establishment & helped expose the covid lies.”

Schneider, meanwhile, provided a much more compassionate message about Pete Rose’s death that did not include any underlying themes.

“The age defying All Time Leader in Hits has joined the baseball Gods; (Babe) Ruth, (Willie) Mays, (Ty) Cobb, (Hank) Aaron and (Mickey) Mantle,” he tweeted Monday night about MLB’s hit king’s death. “Though he never got in the Hall of Fame, his contribution to America’s Pastime is incontrovertible. Pete was built like a truck and ran like a Ferrari. Lucky to have met him.”

Schenider previously had a falling out with his daughter, singer Elle King, who distanced herself from his controversial opinions and called him “very toxic and very silly.”

“I disagree with a lot of the things that he says. You’re talking out of your ass and you’re talking s*** about drag and, you know, anti-gay rights and it’s like, get f***ed,” she said earlier this year.

“He’s just talking out of his a– and I want to use this opportunity to say that I disagree. I do not agree with what he says.”

— This story originally appeared on The New York Post and has been republished with permission

Originally published as Actor’s ‘shameless’ message after NBA icon dies aged 58