Radio Host Expresses Regret Over COVID-19 Vaccine: ‘I Should Have Never Got That Shot’

Radio personality Charlamagne Tha God said Friday he regrets receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, citing chest pain that began after his shots.

Speaking on The Breakfast Club, Charlamagne admitted he now second-guesses the decision.

“I ain’t going to lie. Every time I have chest pain now, I be like, ‘Man, I should have never got that damn COVID shot,’” he said.

He added that he had no cardiovascular issues before the vaccine, though he stopped short of directly blaming it.

“And I’m not saying it was the vaccine,” Charlamagne continued. “I’m just saying when I think about, you know, things, the changes that I’ve had over the last 5 years, that was a big one, getting that vaccine.”

His co-hosts Jess Hilarious and DJ Envy echoed similar frustrations, with Envy noting that workplace mandates forced many to get vaccinated to keep their jobs.

Vaccine Risks and Myocarditis Concerns

Studies have shown a connection between mRNA vaccines — including those from Moderna and Pfizer — and rare cases of myocarditis, especially among younger men. Federal health officials, however, maintain that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks, particularly for older adults and those with preexisting conditions.

Vaccine Access and Political Clash

The comments came a day after Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced heated exchanges with senators at a Finance Committee hearing. Kennedy pushed back against claims from Democrats that the administration had restricted vaccine access.

“Everybody can get the vaccine … You’re making things up to scare people and it’s a lie,” Kennedy said in response to Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH).

The FDA announced in August that individuals 65 and older, as well as those six months and older with high-risk health conditions, remain eligible for vaccination.

The debate over mandates remains politically charged. President Joe Biden initially pledged in 2020 not to impose a federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate but later required vaccinations for federal workers, contractors, and private companies with more than 100 employees. The Supreme Court blocked the private-sector mandate in January 2022.

The Pentagon’s requirement for military service members led to the discharge of more than 8,000 troops who refused vaccination. President Donald Trump reversed the policy in January 2025, reinstating those discharged with full rank, benefits, and back pay.