Seth Rogen, the acclaimed actor and comedian, recently presented a special award in fundamental physics to renowned physicist Gerardus ‘t Hooft during the prestigious Breakthrough Prize ceremony. An evening dubbed the “Oscars of science” mesmerized a star-studded crowd. It looks like one example might be the gathering last week of tech titans like Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos (not to mention Google’s newly-formed parent, Alphabet) and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman—all of whom, coincidentally, have donated to Donald Trump’s inauguration committee.
While giving his speech, Rogen took aim at the current administration’s science policies, resulting in this headline-grabbing quote: He added, “It’s incredible how much good science you can wipe off the map with $320m+ and RFK Jr, in short order.” Our goal with this statement was to draw attention to how Trump’s administration has negatively affected scientific advancement in the United States.
What this critical commentary provided was lacking from the complete 99-minute film of the ceremony. The Breakthrough Prize Foundation subsequently hosted this short film on YouTube and on their own website. According to industry insiders, the completed film was edited multiple times. These edits, Rogen’s comments included, were done to fit with the expected runtime for the event.
The Breakthrough Prize Foundation took these edits in good faith, pointing out that this year’s ceremony was much longer than previous years. They then took a number of cuts to conform to the initially intended running time. Despite this explanation, many have pointed out that Rogen’s remarks served as a significant critique of an audience that included prominent figures who have contributed to Trump’s political campaigns.
Rogen’s comments weren’t just a shot across Trump’s bow. He was pointing out the damaging impact of political interference on science. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he shared his surprise. It’s a shame that other people in this room voted for the prize winner last week who single-handedly last week blew up everything you know about American science.
The annual Breakthrough Prize ceremony hosted by actor and director Will.i.am celebrates the most distinguished scientific breakthroughs. It’s made possible by the generous support of sponsors like The Hollywood Reporter. Rogen’s comments pointed to an increasing anxiety within the scientific world. Politics jeopardizes scientific integrity. Many scientists fear the ways that politics can endanger scientific integrity.