"Most Of The World Was Against Me": Djokovic Says He's Not Anti-Vaccine, But 'Pro-Freedom To Choose'
The world's #1 tennis player Novak Djokovic says that he's not against vaccination - he's for people's right to choose for themselves.
Djokovic, who faced significant backlash for his vaccination status, especially in Australia, told 60 Minutes about the ordeal, saying he was "basically declared as a villain of the world," after refusing to take the Covid-19 vaccine in early 2022. While he initially received a vaccine exemption to play in the Australian Open, public outcry led to Australian immigration minister Alex Hawke revoking his visa, barring him from competition, and then deporting the tennis pro on the grounds that he was a "high-profile unvaccinated individual" who could influence public sentiment about vaccination.
"People tried to, you know, declare me as an anti-vax. I'm not anti-vax. Nor I am pro-vax. I'm pro-freedom to choose," he said.
NEW - Tennis champion Novak Djokovic: "I'm not anti-vax. Nor I am pro-vax. I'm pro-freedom to choose."pic.twitter.com/rqBMsmr3Xj
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) December 9, 2023
"Most of the world [was] against me. I had that kind of experience on the tennis court with crowds that were not maybe cheering me on. But I never had this particular experience before in my life," he continued.
This decision, which led to Djokovic's exclusion from the Australian Open and subsequent U.S. Open, was met with a mix of criticism and support, while the legal battle that ensued raised questions about the role of public figures in influencing health decisions.
Djokovic's lawyers argued that his presence was not a risk to public health and that the visa cancellation could actually fuel anti-vaccination sentiment. However, the court sided with the minister, suggesting Djokovic’s choices could indeed foster anti-vaccination views.
Greg Barns S.C., spokesman for the Australian Lawyers Alliance, described the visa ban as “troubling” in a free society. Yet, the Australian government later overturned the ban, allowing Djokovic to participate in the 2023 Australian Open.
Djokovic made a perfectly reasonable personal health decision that had no impact on the spread of COVID, but because he contradicted the (incorrect) public health/media industrial complex consensus, he was declared a villain
— Ian Miller (@ianmSC) December 11, 2023
One of the most embarrassing time periods in history https://t.co/tlpRxZv2Yb
Amidst this controversy, a broader conversation emerged about vaccinating athletes. A letter by cardiologist Dr. Peter McCullough and structural biologist Panagis Polykretis revealed a startling number of cardiac arrests and major medical issues in vaccinated athletes, raising concerns about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in high-performance sports.
"Important reminder that Djokovic has NEVER said he was against vaccines. He even confirmed that he had all the vaccines as a child but when it came to the brand new Covid vaccine he was an advocate of freedom of choice and that everyone should be free to make their own decisions," said Pavvy G, a tennis blogger, in a Dec. 9 post on X, the Epoch Times reports.
Moderna, a key player in vaccine development, reportedly placed Djokovic on a "vaccine misinformation" watch list. His victory at the Moderna-sponsored U.S. Open was seen by some as a challenge to vaccine mandates, with social media users highlighting the irony of his unvaccinated status in a tournament sponsored by a leading vaccine manufacturer.
The pharma company claimed that unvaccinated people were celebrating his win, with social media users “mockingly” pointing out that Moderna was the sponsor of the competition. The firm said that the “optics of Djokovic” bolster “anti-vaccine claims that vaccines—and mandates—are unnecessary.” -Epoch Times
Bravo for standing your ground, Novak.