Leave it to the tech industry to not have a sense of humor about its self-inflicted wounds. Appearing as a presenter at the 2025 Breakthrough Prize ceremony, known colloquially as the “Oscars of Science,” Seth Rogen had the gall to criticize Silicon Valley for “underwriting” the Trump election despite its adverse effects on the scientific community. Rest assured, the Breakthrough Prize cut the joke from its stream and clips of the ceremony, per The Hollywood Reporter.
Along with Ed Norton, Rogen co-presented the Special Breakthrough Prize in Physics to Gerardus ‘t Hooft of the University of Utrecht on April 8 in Santa Monica. During his presentation, Rogen joked about the irony of former Breakthrough Prize attendee Elon Musk and other Silicon Valley luminaries helping to get President Trump elected, presumably because of his commitment to scholarship and truth. “And it’s amazing that others [who have been] in this room underwrote electing a man who, in the last week, single-handedly destroyed all of American science,” Rogen said. “It’s amazing how much good science you can destroy with $320 million and RFK Jr, very fast.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the joke didn’t go over well, with Rogen commenting that he received a “smattering” of applause. Rogen’s comments about the applause remain in Breakthrough’s YouTube clip of the presentation while excising his remarks about the underwritten man who “single-handedly destroyed all of American science.” Nevertheless, the Breakthrough Prize Foundation says his comments were cut for time. “This year’s ceremony lasted longer than the prior few years, and several edits were made in order to meet the originally planned run time,” a spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter. Sure, if they’re going to cut something, it might as well be the cold hand of reality reminding them how much good science you can destroy with $320 million. At least the edits are evident and awkward.
