Djokovic Says He’s Not Anti-Vaccine, But ‘Pro-Freedom to Choose’

Contact Your Elected Officials
The Epoch Times Header

Mr. Djokovic faced negative press after he refused to be vaccinated to play in the Australian Open.

World number one tennis player Novak Djokovic has said that he is not against vaccination but only wants the right to opt out.

In early 2022, Mr. Djokovic became embroiled in controversy over the COVID-19 vaccine. At the time, he had received a vaccine exemption to play in the Australian Open. However, following a public outcry, the tennis player was deported and couldnโ€™t take part in the competition.

โ€œPeople tried to, you know, declare me as an anti-vax. I’m not anti-vax. Nor I am pro-vax. I’m pro-freedom to choose,โ€ Mr. Djokovic said in a Dec. 10 interview with “60 Minutes.”

When asked how the controversy in Australia affected him, he replied that he was โ€œbasically declared as a villain of the world.โ€

โ€œMost of the world [was] against me. I had that kind of experience on the tennis court with crowds that were not maybe cheering me on. But I never had this particular experience before in my life.โ€

Mr. Djokovic dismissed the suggestion that he misread the Australian culture which felt strongly about vaccination at the time. โ€œThe point is that it was not up to me to read anybody. I got the exemption. I got permission to come into the country. And so, of course, it escalated to the highest of the highest levels globally.โ€

Mr. Djokovicโ€™s stance on vaccination has earned him considerable praise online. โ€œOne of the few athletes with a backbone,โ€ Collin Rugg, co-owner of Trending Politics outlet, said in a Dec. 10 X post.

โ€œThe left is UP IN ARMS over tennis champion Novak Djokovic position on the vaccine. โ€˜I’m not anti-vax. Nor I am pro-vax. I’m pro-freedom to choose.โ€™ What’s wrong with this?!?!โ€ comedian Chad Prather said in an X post.

โ€œImportant reminder that Djokovic has NEVER said he was against vaccines. He even confirmed that he had all the vaccines as a child but when it came to the brand new Covid vaccine he was an advocate of freedom of choice and that everyone should be free to make their own decisions,โ€ Pavvy G, a tennis blogger, said in a Dec. 9 post on X.

Byย Naveen Athrappully

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

Armistice and amnesiaโ€ฏย 

In case you missed it too, June 25thโ€ฏmarked the 75th anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War โ€“ the first hot front of the Cold War.โ€ฏ

Candace Owens Gets Sued by Macrons

Candace Owens began a deep dive into the lives of French President Emmanuel Macron, his wife Brigitte, and the story of how they came to be together.

Fluoride โ€˜Tabletsโ€™ For Babies EXPLODE in Popularity Amid Water Fluoridation Rollbacks

Reportedly, NPCs are so distraught that their toddlers wonโ€™t be fed a neurotoxin through the public water supply that theyโ€™ve resorted to fluoride pills.

ChatGPT Goes Biblical about End Times!

There are some truly outstanding internet content creators, or...

Bangkok Indians: โ€˜You Are Lucky Manโ€™

In Bangkok, friendly prostitutes outside โ€œmassageโ€ shops tell me Iโ€™m โ€œso handsome man.โ€ Indian men prowling those streets tell me Iโ€™m โ€œlucky man.โ€

Education Department Probe Finds 5 Virginia School Districts Violated Title IX

Five school districts in No. VA violated Title IX by allowing students to access โ€œintimate, sex-segregated facilities based on subjective โ€˜gender identity,โ€™โ€

Washington State Sues to Prevent Trump Admin From Accessing Food Aid Immigration Data

Washington state is suing financial services company Fidelity Information Service to prevent it from sharing food aid data with the federal government.

5 Things to Know About Trump Adminโ€™s Settlement With Columbia University

Under agreement between President Trump and Columbia regarding anti-Semitism, school will pay a $200 million fine to regain federal money.

Trumps America: Welpโ€ฆ that backfired.

The official @TheDemocrats account posted chart with the caption โ€œTrumpโ€™s Americaโ€ โ€” but didnโ€™t seem to notice how their own graph actually works.

Ex-DOJ Officials File Lawsuit Against Bondi Over Terminations

Former DOJ officials filed lawsuit against AG Bondi and the fed. govt, saying they were terminated for work on cases related to Jan. 6 Capitol breach.

Odds of U.S.-EU Trade Deal Are 50โ€“50 Ahead of Tariff Deadline: Trump

President Donald Trump said thereโ€™s a 50โ€“50 chance that the United States will finalize a trade deal with the European Union before an Aug. 1 deadline.

Trump Pulls Habbaโ€™s Nomination for New Jerseyโ€™s Top Prosecutor, Making Her Acting US Attorney

President Trump withdrew his nomination of Alina Habba to serve as NJโ€™s top federal prosecutor, making her Acting US Attorney.

Trump Says He Wants Muskโ€™s Companies to โ€˜Thrive Like Never Beforeโ€™

On Thursday, President Trump said, โ€œI want Elon, and all businesses within our Country, to THRIVE, in fact, THRIVE like never before!โ€
spot_img

Related Articles