Overview

• Seth Rogen made unscripted remarks at the 2025 Breakthrough Prize ceremony, criticizing tech industry funding and its political influence on American science.
• Rogen specifically referenced $320 million in funding tied to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., suggesting it undermined scientific progress.
• The official YouTube video of the ceremony was edited to omit Rogen's controversial comments, with organizers citing the event's extended runtime as the reason for the cuts.
• The Breakthrough Prize Foundation, co-founded by tech leaders like Mark Zuckerberg and Sergey Brin, has faced renewed scrutiny over the intersection of tech funding, science, and politics.
• Rogen’s history of provocative, off-script commentary at public events adds a layer of complexity to his role at the ceremony, which aims to celebrate scientific achievement.