The Breakthrough Prize, renowned for celebrating achievements in scientific fields and sometimes referred to as “the Oscars of Science,” recently faced controversy during its livestreamed event on April 5th. Comedian Seth Rogen’s comments regarding prominent tech figures supporting former President Trump sparked a bit of stir, leading to those remarks being edited out of the event’s full video.
Rogen remarked, “It’s amazing that others in this room underwrote electing a man who, in the last week, single-handedly destroyed all of American science,” a statement echoed by The Hollywood Reporter. He added, “It’s amazing how much good science you can destroy with $320 million and RFK Jr., very fast.”
His comments were in direct reference to the Trump administration’s actions that reduced funding to various scientific programs and government agencies. Trump, known for his skepticism regarding climate change, has surrounded himself with influential figures from Silicon Valley, such as Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder of the Breakthrough Awards, who has aligned himself with some of Trump’s initiatives. Additionally, businessman Elon Musk, who invested heavily in Trump’s campaign, and anti-vaccine advocate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have also gained prominence in Trump’s circle.
Rogen’s joke elicited only a modest reaction from the audience, following a statement of gratitude from co-presenter Edward Norton toward the Silicon Valley figures for their financial support of the ceremony. Each Breakthrough Prize comes with a reward of $3 million, awarded across disciplines such as life sciences, mathematics, and fundamental physics.
In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, the Breakthrough Prize organization noted, “This year’s ceremony lasted longer than the prior few years, and several edits were made in order to meet the originally planned run time.” Since the event was not broadcasted on television, the exact scheduling constraints that affected the YouTube upload remain uncertain.
