Fox News has long weathered criticism for using valuable airtime to downplay the pandemic and promote anti-vaccine rhetoric.
The latest controversy—involving Tucker Carlson, singer Nicki Minaj and her cousin's friend's testicles—is no different.
You can watch the bizarre coverage in the video below.
Here's Tucker Carlson reading Nicki Minaj's "testicles became swollen" tweet out loudpic.twitter.com/CvkY4vxMB4— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1631581493
It all started when Minaj, writing in a tweet, linked Covid-19 vaccines to swollen testicles and impotence despite the lack of any evidence.
Minaj suggested she would "research" the safety and efficacy of vaccines after choosing not to attend the Met Gala in New York, citing the event's vaccination requirement.
Minaj revealed she had not yet received a vaccine, noting if she does get vaccinated "it won't [be] for the Met."
They want you to get vaccinated for the Met. if I get vaccinated it won\u2019t for the Met. It\u2019ll be once I feel I\u2019ve done enough research. I\u2019m working on that now. In the meantime my loves, be safe. Wear the mask with 2 strings that grips your head & face. Not that loose one— Nicki Minaj (@Nicki Minaj) 1631568090
She claimed her cousin in Trinidad declined to get vaccinated because one of his friends became impotent after his testicles swelled.
"My cousin in Trinidad won't get the vaccine cuz his friend got it & became impotent."
"His testicles became swollen. His friend was weeks away from getting married, now the girl called off the wedding."
My cousin in Trinidad won\u2019t get the vaccine cuz his friend got it & became impotent. His testicles became swollen. His friend was weeks away from getting married, now the girl called off the wedding. So just pray on it & make sure you\u2019re comfortable with ur decision, not bullied— Nicki Minaj (@Nicki Minaj) 1631569446
Fox News later decided to run the story.
Fox personality Tucker Carlson actually read Minaj's tweet on the air, promising to report on the reaction to the tweet on his next program.
Carlson claimed Minaj's hesitance to getting vaccinated "seems sensible."
However, there is no evidence Covid-19 vaccines cause swollen testicles, impotence or infertility.
Given the vaccine has now been administered to roughly 42% of the global population, wouldn't these signs have shown up by now? In something more reliable than "my cousin in another country's friend" stories?
Many found the story ridiculous and criticized the network for dedicating time to it.
You proud of this? @TuckerCarlson @FoxNews \nWhat a joke you arehttps://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1437583096849866765\u00a0\u2026— smithsgirl \ud83d\udc3e (@smithsgirl \ud83d\udc3e) 1631633557
I man if you\u2019re \u201creporting\u201d from a tweet about a cousin\u2019s friend is there any point to all this remaininghttps://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1437583096849866765\u00a0\u2026— Ian Wolfe, PhD, RN, HEC-C (@Ian Wolfe, PhD, RN, HEC-C) 1631585211
Decline and fall of Western Civilization and Common Sensehttps://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1437583096849866765\u00a0\u2026— Reybread (@Reybread) 1631591732
C'mon, someone needs to put a stop to the bold faced bu11shit. STAT.https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1437583096849866765\u00a0\u2026— \ud835\udd4b-\ud835\udd39\ud835\udd52\ud835\udd58 \ud835\udd44\ud835\udd54\ud835\udd3e\ud835\udd5a\ud835\udd5d\ud835\udd5d\ud835\udd5a\ud835\udd54\ud835\udd66\ud835\udd65\ud835\udd65\ud835\udd6a (@\ud835\udd4b-\ud835\udd39\ud835\udd52\ud835\udd58 \ud835\udd44\ud835\udd54\ud835\udd3e\ud835\udd5a\ud835\udd5d\ud835\udd5d\ud835\udd5a\ud835\udd54\ud835\udd66\ud835\udd65\ud835\udd65\ud835\udd6a) 1631582574
honestly this shit is sadhttps://twitter.com/i/status/1437583096849866765\u00a0\u2026— roslyn talusan (@roslyn talusan) 1631582805
Rumors the vaccine causes impotence in men and infertility in women have circulated for months.
In February, the British Fertility Society and Association of Reproductive and Clinical Scientists released a statement debunking these claims, saying there is "absolutely no evidence, and no theoretical reason, that any of the vaccines can affect the fertility of women or men."
@priscillachan/Instagram