Tucker Carlson is facing backlash after making controversial remarks suggesting that COVID-19 was engineered to affect certain ethnic groups while sparing others, specifically citing Ashkenazi Jews — a claim experts say is scientifically unfounded and deeply misleading.

During a recent discussion, Carlson referenced a debunked theory — originally echoed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. years earlier — claiming that the virus could have been designed as a “bioweapon” capable of targeting specific genetic receptors. He went on to suggest that data from consumer DNA companies such as 23andMe and Ancestry could be misused for genetic analysis.

Health experts and researchers swiftly rejected the claims, emphasizing that no credible evidence supports the notion that COVID-19 was engineered to spare or target any ethnic group. The World Health Organization (WHO), U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), and leading geneticists have all stated that such claims distort genetic science and fuel conspiracy theories.

Public reaction to Carlson’s comments has been fierce, with many calling them irresponsible and antisemitic in implication, given the long history of false narratives targeting Jewish communities.

Critics warn that such statements not only undermine trust in public health but also amplify dangerous divisions at a time when misinformation continues to spread online.

Meanwhile, both 23andMe and Ancestry.com have reaffirmed their privacy commitments, stating that genetic data from users is not shared with governments or weaponized in any form.

As the controversy grows, Carlson’s remarks serve as another reminder of how unchecked speculation about genetics and disease can quickly spiral into harmful disinformation with real-world consequences.