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Seth Rogen’s Controversial Remarks at Breakthrough Prize Ceremony Draw Criticism
Seth Rogen’s recent appearance at the Breakthrough Prize ceremony may have hindered his chances of being invited back next year due to a spontaneous remark about former President Donald Trump. His comments, which highlighted Trump’s perceived detrimental impact on American science, caused discomfort among some attendees, including tech luminaries Mark Zuckerberg, Yuri Milner, and Sergey Brin. Following the event, the organization decided to omit this portion of his speech from the broadcast, which is often referred to as the “Oscars of Science.”
During the event, Rogen, who shared the stage with a visibly uneasy Edward Norton, addressed the paradox of honoring previous guests such as Elon Musk, who has been a vocal supporter of Trump. The reaction from the audience was largely muted, signaling a mix of awkwardness and disbelief.
“It’s striking that some in this room supported the election of a man who, just last week, single-handedly undermined all of American science,” Rogen remarked, reacting to Norton’s laudatory comments about the influential figures in tech. He continued, “It’s astounding how quickly one can dismantle good science with just $320 million and an ally like RFK Jr.”
Viewers can catch the full ceremony in its entirety, where Rogen is seen enjoying a martini during host James Corden’s introductory segment. He later joins Norton on stage approximately 75 minutes into the event.
Both Rogen’s representatives and officials from the Breakthrough Prize have yet to respond to inquiries regarding the incident.
This isn’t the first time Rogen has faced backlash for his unscripted remarks during awards presentations. In January 2025, he co-hosted the Best Performance by a Female Actor award at another ceremony alongside Catherine O’Hara. Their humorous banter about fictional biopics of Canadian celebrities led Rogen to make a tongue-in-cheek comment about his role in a faux film titled “Gosling,” centering on Ryan Gosling’s life.
“Yes, it was unauthorized, and the scene with the Mickey Mouse Club caused quite a stir, but we thought it crucial to include,” Rogen joked at the time.
The Hollywood Reporter, which sponsored this year’s ceremony, was the first to break the story regarding Rogen’s comments being cut from the show.
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www.thewrap.com