A Johnson & Johnson Lead Scientist, Joshua Rys, was confronted by OMG founder James O’Keefe after allegedly admitting the company’s COVID-19 vaccine was “not safe and effective.”
The confrontation began after undercover footage captured Rys, identified as a lead regulatory scientist for the pharmaceutical giant, making shocking statements about the COVID-19 vaccine. “None of that stuff was safe and effective,” Rys said in the hidden camera video. “Do you have any idea of the lack of research that was done on those products?”
When approached for comment outside a public location, Rys initially denied his identity multiple times. “Are you Joshua from Johnson & Johnson?” O’Keefe asked. “You’re going to deny your identity?” Rys responded, “Yes, sir.”
As the questions mounted, Rys attempted to flee, twice entering the women’s restroom in an apparent effort to avoid further questioning. “Are you confused?” O’Keefe asked. “You are clearly a man, and you are just in the women’s bathroom.” Rys responded, “I am a human man. I am allowed to take a pee in the men’s restroom.”
Despite being shown footage of his own statements, Rys repeatedly deflected and refused to clarify or stand by his earlier remarks. When asked why he said the vaccine wasn’t safe, Rys replied, “There’s always risk. There’s always a side effect,” before stating, “This is not an easy position… I’m not in a place.”
The confrontation grew more tense as O’Keefe pressed Rys on whether he would testify under oath about his admissions. “Will you go to court and say under oath you didn’t say these words?” O’Keefe asked. Rys refused to answer directly.
O’Keefe described the scene as emblematic of a broader crisis in accountability and transparency within the pharmaceutical industry: “When caught, they equivocate… They say they feel threatened by a camera. The thing that we’re up against is human nature itself. It’s not left or right, it’s good versus evil. Truth versus false.”
As Rys departed, O’Keefe vowed to continue pursuing answers: “We’re going to reach back out to Joshua. Try to get more information out of him. Stay tuned.”
