UPDATED 6/13, 10:15 a.m. ET: Jessica Biel flatly denied the idea that she's anti-vaxx. After a visit to the California State Assembly sparked rumors that she's against vaccinations, the actress—who has a 4-year-old son with husband Justin Timberlake—explained her trip in a post to her Instagram.
"I support children getting vaccinations and I also support families having the right to make educated medical decisions for their children alongside their physicians," she wrote.
Biel said she supports the idea of vaccinations more generally, but dislikes the portion of the proposed bill that would make it harder for families to receive medical exemptions from vaccinations.
See original story below.
Jessica Biel has reignited anti-vaxx rumors.
The 37-year-old actress was recently spotted at the California State Assembly where she reportedly lobbied against SB 276—a bill that aims to crack down on fraudulent vaccine exemptions for children. Proponents say the measure could combat the return of the measles virus, as it is expected to cut medical exemptions by about 40 percent; however, SB 276 has been widely criticized by anti-vaxxers like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an environmental activist who says the legislation could infringe on parental rights.
"How can you mandate a product when you don’t know what the risks are?" Kennedy said about the bill back in April. "The risk with most of the vaccines now mandated (is) that the vaccines may cause much more harm than the original illness did. And I’m happy to debate that science with anybody."
On Tuesday, Biel met with Kennedy as well as other lawmakers to express her opposition to SB 276. Kennedy shared an Instagram photo taken during the actress' visit, writing: "Please say thank you to the courageous @jessicabiel for a busy and productive day at the California State House."
As pointed out by Jezebel, other politicians have taken to social media to confirm they, too, met with Biel to discuss her concerns about SB 276. These lawmakers included Assemblyman Tom Lackey, Assemblyman Devon Mathis, and Sen. Brian Jones.
Biel is the mother of one child, whom she shares with husband Justin Timberlake. In a 2015 In Toucharticle, sources claimed the celebrity couple decided not to vaccinate their son because they feared it would cause complications.
"I’m sure Jessica believes that she’s making the right decision, but hopefully she and Justin will do some more research on this and change their minds," an insider said.
