Rob Schneider has landed in hot water after using the death of NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo to further his anti-vaccine narrative. The comedian was among the many who expressed condolences after Mutombo's passing, but his tribute quickly took a divisive turn.

On Monday, Schneider took to social media platform X to share his feelings about the loss. His initial message began with a simple 'Rest in Peace...' However, the tone of his post shifted dramatically as he cited a video Mutombo had released during the pandemic in 2021, promoting the COVID vaccine. Schneider insinuated that there might be a correlation between the vaccine and Mutombo's untimely death, despite the fact that the basketball star had openly battled brain cancer since 2022.

In a sarcastic tone, Schneider remarked that it was 'just (another) coincidence' that Mutombo, who received the vaccine, passed away at the relatively young age of 58. He went on to declare that he would continue to advise those around him against getting vaccinated. This bold statement ignited a firestorm of criticism from social media users, with the majority deeming his comments distasteful.

One user rebutted, 'He had brain cancer. So your correlation ain’t correlating,' while another demanded an end to the spreading of what they described as propaganda, asserting, 'Bro just stop with the nonsense. It’s old.' The backlash didn't stop there, as others brought Schneider's complicated personal life into the fray, including his turbulent relationship with his daughter, Elle King, with one commenter suggesting that it explained her disdain for him.

In a world still grappling with the ramifications of the pandemic, Schneider’s comments have only fueled further discussions about the intersection of celebrity influence and public health. As the dialogue continues, it highlights the ongoing struggle between vaccine skepticism and the wealth of scientific evidence supporting vaccination's role in preventing serious illness.

Rob Schneider's attempt to leverage a tragic moment for his agenda has drawn a line that many fans are unwilling to cross, prompting widespread calls for more responsible discourse in the wake of loss.