Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has centered his independent presidential campaign around the issue of censorship, specifically alleging that the government, news media, and tech platforms have attempted to suppress his message.
Over the weekend, Mr. Kennedy’s claims gained more traction when Facebook and Instagram blocked a link to a new, professionally produced 30-minute ad supporting his candidacy. The link was inaccessible from late Friday afternoon until midday on Saturday.
Meta, the parent company of both platforms, acknowledged that this was a mistake. Andy Stone, a spokesperson for Meta, explained that the link was mistakenly flagged as spam and was unblocked within a few hours once the error was identified.
Tony Lyons, the founder of American Values 2024, the super PAC behind the ad, announced plans to sue Meta in federal court, alleging censorship and violation of First Amendment rights to free speech.
“When social media companies censor a presidential candidate, the public is deprived of the opportunity to understand the candidate’s beliefs and policies,” Mr. Lyons stated. “Instead, we are left with propaganda and falsehoods from powerful and corrupt entities.”
The ad, narrated by actor Woody Harrelson in the style of an infomercial, aims to introduce Mr. Kennedy to a wider audience. It portrays him as a champion of a clean environment, good governance, and American values, free from corporate influence that he argues has tainted the major political parties and jeopardized public health.
The ad also addresses criticisms of Mr. Kennedy in a light-hearted manner, starting with excerpts from press articles labeling him as “clearly disturbed,” “crazy,” a “conspiracy theorist,” and a “bully.”
Following the release of the video on Friday, users on Instagram and Facebook reported that posts containing the link were removed for violating the platforms’ terms of service, as shown in screenshots shared with The New York Times and posted by supporters and the campaign.
On Saturday, the campaign shared a TikTok video compiling error messages and sent a fundraising email to supporters, urging them to document what they deemed “election interference.” Mr. Kennedy labeled the ad as “the Bobby Kennedy video Facebook doesn’t want you to see” in a Facebook post that afternoon.
In the ad, Mr. Kennedy reflects on his journey as a member of a prominent American political family, his battle with heroin addiction early in his legal career, and how sobriety led him to environmental advocacy.
The video highlights Mr. Kennedy’s physical fitness, with Mr. Harrelson noting his ability to do 25 pull-ups in one set. The ad emphasizes the need for systemic change rather than minor adjustments.
Mr. Kennedy’s wife, actress Cheryl Hines, is interviewed in the ad, and Twitter founder Jack Dorsey briefly appears to laud him. Mr. Lyons commended the social media platform X, formerly Twitter after Elon Musk’s acquisition, for not blocking access to the ad, citing it as one of the few platforms committed to free speech.
Mr. Kennedy’s skepticism towards vaccinations, including debunked claims linking vaccines to autism, and his allegations of government overreach garnered attention during the pandemic, despite platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube previously disabling accounts promoting what they deemed medical misinformation.
In the ad, Mr. Kennedy explains his views on Covid-19, expressing concerns about the safety and efficacy of rushed vaccines and the negative impact of lockdowns on businesses and children. He claims to have been silenced when voicing these opinions publicly.
Mr. Kennedy’s social media accounts were reinstated after he announced his presidential candidacy last year.
