For reasons that remain foggy, the Fox News host bragged on the television Sunday that he has not washed his hands in approximately a decade-and attributed the fact that he rarely gets sick to his poor hygiene.
I dont think Ive washed my hands for ten years, Hegseth said on Fox & Friends on Sunday, to the apparent horror of his co-hosts and normal, non-disgusting human beings everywhere. I dont really wash my hands ever.
Fox News @PeteHegseth admits, unprompted, that he hasnt washed his hands in 10 years. Germs are not a real thing, Pete says. I cant see them, therefore theyre not real. pic.twitter.com/9hsAb9YA9j - Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 10, 2019
The bizarre admission, which has since earned him deserved mockery across the internet, apparently came after his co-hosts chided him for eating pizza off-camera that had been left out since the day before. He copped to downing some slices, saying that pizza lasts for a long time. Emboldened, perhaps, after admitting his love for probably stale food, he announced his resolution to say things on air that I say off air -which, it seems, includes the fact that he has apparently not washed his hands since roughly 2009.
I inoculate myself, he said in support of his being too lazy to spend 15 seconds rubbing soap on his hands and running them under water. Its just not-germs are not a real thing. I cant see them, therefore theyre not real.
The remarks, of course, were made somewhat in jest. But if he's serious, he (unfortunately) wouldnt be alone in his grossness. Some see a of dudes not washing their hands after using the restroom, with showing just 66% of Americans wash their hands after using public restrooms. One from last year suggested one-in-six men dont even wash after taking a dump. Other surveys likely exist suggesting this exceedingly gross habit is a thing, but I am honestly too creeped out to look any further.
This goes without saying-or at least it should: You need to wash your hands. You should be doing it all the time: after you use the bathroom; when youre handling food and eating; just for fun if you have a few minutes free, etc. It's especially important during cold and flu season, when germs are waiting around every corner to knock you on your ass. If you need a refresher, please take quick look at our .
We hope that Hegseth is joking. But if not, we highly recommend he reports to the nearest sink as soon as possible-and that his colleagues, for their benefit and for his, avoid shaking hands with him until he does.