Neil deGrasse Tyson is being dragged to the other side of the universe and back over a callous tweet in which he basically said two mass shootings over a 48-hour period isn’t really that bad when you consider the many other ways people can die in that same time frame.
The famous astrophysicist bizarrely tweeted out some statistics Sunday following back-to-back mass shootings in Ohio and Texas—which has claimed the lives of 29 innocent people so far and injured dozens more—saying that mass shootings are simply a minor blip on the death radar.
His words exactly:
“In the past 48hrs, the USA horrifically lost 34 people to mass shootings. On average, across any 48hrs, we also lose…500 to Medical errors; 300 to the Flu; 250 to Suicide; 200 to Car Accidents; 40 to Homicide via Handgun.
“Often our emotions respond more to spectacle than to data.”
In the past 48hrs, the USA horrifically lost 34 people to mass shootings.
On average, across any 48hrs, we also lose…
500 to Medical errors
300 to the Flu
250 to Suicide
200 to Car Accidents
40 to Homicide via HandgunOften our emotions respond more to spectacle than to data.
— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) August 4, 2019
Unsurprisingly, Twitter gave him the BIZNESS for his ridiculously tone-deaf tweet downplaying mass shootings and gun violence in general:
When Neil deGrasse Tyson misses the point, he misses it astronomically.
— Mike Godwin (@sfmnemonic) August 4, 2019
This is a shockingly fucked up take from a true belly button fluff human being. Oh my good god. Corny motherfucker I can't believe this. https://t.co/tYKcpVG4gB
— Bowen Yang ??? (@bowenyang) August 4, 2019
Neil deGrasse Tyson (screaming into a casket): scientifically you died of blood loss and not a gun shot
— Michael Tannenbaum (@iamTannenbaum) August 4, 2019
Plane is going down.
Neil deGrasse Tyson taps you on the shoulder: “way more people die on the way TO the airpor-”
— Mike Camerlengo (@MCamerlengo) August 4, 2019
We're working to prevent medical errors.
We're working to prevent the flu.
We're working to prevent suicide.
We're working to prevent car accident.
We're doing fuck all about mass shootings.Spot the difference, Neil.
— Rekalty (@Rekalty) August 4, 2019
Neil DeGrasse Tyson reads at a PhD level, and still can't read the fucking room.
— Dookter Strange Vs. The Multiverse of Madness (@_Rewhan) August 4, 2019
everyone after reading that neil degrass tyson tweet pic.twitter.com/Zvfdj0wEZ2
— P.J. Sasskowicz (@Android_Sparky) August 4, 2019
The worst thing about that Neil Degrasse Tyson tweet is that Actually, a whole bunch of women accused him of rape and sexual harassment and we all just sort of moved on.
— Jon (@JonIsAwesomest) August 4, 2019
Everybody: "Mass shootings are bad"
Neil deGrasse Tyson: pic.twitter.com/kGf4mfGZ1q
— Casey Spivey (@caseyspivey) August 4, 2019
neil degrasse tyson really said "People die all the time, therefore murder is fine"
— H-I?| Levi Love bot (@LevMessy) August 4, 2019
I don't know who Neil DeGrasse Tyson is, but he's cancelled.
— twitch.tv/Limmy (@DaftLimmy) August 4, 2019
In any given 48 hours, the data set gathered will confirm the hypothesis that somewhere Neil deGrasse Tyson is being a smug asshole about something.
— Charlotte Clymer???? (@cmclymer) August 4, 2019
You: I've been shot by someone who exploited existing gun laws that are too lax.
Rational adult: We should have common sense gun laws that prevent this from happening again.
Neil deGrasse Tyson: Vending machines have killed at least 37 people. You should really calm down.
— Charlotte Clymer???? (@cmclymer) August 4, 2019
When Neil Tyson dies and we can tell his family not to be sad because statistically mfs die every day >>>>>>>>
— the big tweet p@pi (@DreadfulTweeter) August 4, 2019
Neil, please read the many MANY responses to this awful tweet, from the rational to the outraged (often both) and take a moment to reflect on the idea, however alien it might be to you, that you’re not always the smartest guy in the room. Because right now you look like an idiot. https://t.co/jQBKGRaKJQ
— Gary Whitta (@garywhitta) August 4, 2019
Neil deGrasse Tyson hopping onto Twitter pic.twitter.com/cpyCdCk1SU
— Neon Genesis Evangel-Ian (@le_canuck) August 4, 2019
Whenever Neil deGrasse Tyson tweets pic.twitter.com/EA32Pqq6Ze
— kendrew (@KendrewLamar) August 4, 2019
FUCK OFF!!!! There's your data!!!!
— Smash Mouth (@smashmouth) August 4, 2019
Dear Neil DeGrasse Tyson, please shut the fuck up. Signed, everyone.
