Right-wing media lash out over Bill Nye’s Last Week Tonight call to action on climate change

Fox News host: “If it was a real crisis, he wouldn't be joking like that.”

Special Programs Climate & Energy

Written by Rebecca Martin

Published

From the May 12 edition of HBO’s Last Week Tonight:

If you are wondering why Bill Nye (@BillNye) is trending. WATCH. pic.twitter.com/B2MEFgkZW8

— Karine Jean-Pierre (@K_JeanPierre) May 13, 2019

Bill Nye appeared on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver on May 12 for a segment about climate change. In the segment, Nye issued a blunt warning that action must be taken to curtail changing climate or otherwise there will be dire consequences. After the segment went viral, right-wing media lashed out at Nye.

  • While the onscreen chyron said “Climate Hysteria,” Fox host Jesse Watters said of Nye: “If it was a real crisis, he wouldn't be joking like that.” From the May 13 edition of Fox News' The Five:

  • Frequent Fox News guest and climate-denier Joe Bastardi: “It’s just crazy, are you angry?” From a May 13 video Bastardi uploaded to his YouTube channel:

  • Dana Loesch: “If the planet is on blanking fire, and we’re all going to die in 10-12 years, then how is it that the only action you want to take is to take people’s money?” From the May 13 edition of Radio America's The Dana Show:

  • RedState: “WATCH: Fake Reporter John Oliver and Fake Scientist Bill Nye Try to Sell You a Fake Crisis”

    WATCH: Fake Reporter John Oliver and Fake Scientist Bill Nye Try to Sell You a Fake Crisis https://t.co/fiswOJXZE8

    — RedState (@RedState) May 13, 2019

  • Daily Wire’s Michael Knowles: “Guys, @BillNye is using the f-word. That's how you know he's super serious”

    Guys, @BillNye is using the f-word. That's how you know he's super serious.pic.twitter.com/riaQpC2Z8N

    — Michael Knowles (@michaeljknowles) May 13, 2019

  • Glenn Beck’s The Blaze “Bill Nye loses it and melts down over climate change, goes on expletive-laden rant during late-night show”

    “Bill Nye used adult language to explain climate change to adults on Sunday night's ”Last Week with John Oliver." During a segment on Oliver's HBO show, Nye — famous for “Bill Nye the Science Guy,” as well as his staunch liberal schtick on climate change — appeared to demonstrate the effect of climate change on the planet. Oliver, who was fact-checking Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's (D-N.Y.) comprehensive Green New Deal, cued a segment Nye filmed for Oliver's show. The Senate voted the deal down in March. The late-night show host was also discussing a new report from the U.N. that warned that the planet could experience a lasting change as early as 2040 due to climate change." [The Blaze, 5/13/19]

  • The Daily Wire: Nye “threw a temper tantrum.”

    Bill Nye, The “Science Guy,” threw a temper tantrum in a video played Sunday night on HBO’s “Last Week with John Oliver,” hysterically proclaiming, “The planet's on f***ing fire!” and ranting, ”Grow the f*** up! You're not children anymore!”

    The video of Nye showed him in his lab coat accompanied by a globe, a blanket, a fire extinguisher, and a pile of sand. Nye stated, “Here, I’ve got an experiment for you. Safety glasses on.” Donning glasses, he continued, “By the end of this century, if emissions keep rising, the average temperature on Earth could go up another 4 to 8 degrees.” Yanking out a blowtorch, he then announced, “What I'm saying is, the planet's on f***ing fire!” [Daily Wire, 5/13/19]