Larry David, co-creator of the acclaimed HBO series "Curb Your Enthusiasm," has included a segment in his new show, "Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness," that appears to criticize independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for his views on vaccines.
The show's closing sketch depicts a narrator highlighting that polio was eradicated in the U.S. due to widespread vaccinations. Within the sketch, a character portraying the mother of Jonas Salk, the developer of the polio vaccine, brags about her son's achievements. This is juxtaposed with a neighbor, referred to as "Bobby," who expresses doubts about vaccines, claiming they will "kill people" and cause heart attacks.
David's character dismisses "Bobby," stating, "Drop dead, Bobby! You should die a dog's death. You don’t know anything about science, you’re not a doctor." When "Bobby" suggests he would prevent children from receiving polio or measles vaccines if he were in charge, David's character responds, "Oh, if you were in charge, oh, God help us all! If some idiot, some moron, ever put you in charge, that would be a dark day for humanity, I can tell you that."
The sketch includes lines that seem to reference Kennedy's past statements, including an invocation of Nazi Germany in relation to COVID-19 policies and a suggestion that the virus was engineered to avoid Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people.
David and Kennedy were once acquaintances, with David having introduced Kennedy to his wife, actress Cheryl Hines. However, David has reportedly distanced himself from Kennedy since the latter announced his 2024 presidential campaign. When Kennedy told The New York Times that he felt "a lot of support and love from most of [Hines’] friends, including Larry" regarding his candidacy, David responded via text, "Yes love and support, but I’m not ‘supporting’ him."
Hines herself has indicated a rift, telling NewsNation that David had not spoken to her since Kennedy appeared at the April 2024 premiere of the final season of "Curb Your Enthusiasm." She speculated that Kennedy's perceived alignment with Donald Trump might be the cause.
Jeff Schaffer, co-creator and director of David's new HBO show, told Variety that the series aims to comment on current events through a "historical lens." He noted, "Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. We’re talking about vaccinations, and there’s incredible ignorance about vaccinations going on right now."
The sketch marks another instance of the show addressing figures associated with the current political landscape. Earlier in the month, director Rob Reiner was reportedly targeted in a sketch on the show.