(From left) Mandy Moore, Chris Evans and Barbra Streisand (Images: AFP/Mark Ralston, Jason Merritt, Jon Kopaloff)
Mandy Moore, Chris Evans and fellow celebrities criticized US President Donald Trump for telling the public not to be afraid of COVID-19.
Trump made the remark on Twitter as he returned to the White House earlier today, Oct., 6 after a three-night stay in a hospital for COVID-19 treatments. After stating that he was “feeling really good,” he urged others not to fear the disease caused by the coronavirus.
“Don’t be afraid of [COVID-19]. Don’t let it dominate your life,” Trump said.
I will be leaving the great Walter Reed Medical Center today at 6:30 P.M. Feeling really good! Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life. We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs & knowledge. I feel better than I did 20 years ago!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 5, 2020
“We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs [and] knowledge,” he added. “I feel better than I did 20 years ago!”
Following his tweet, Moore quickly described Trump as “the cruelest” and encouraged her fans to vote him out in the upcoming US presidential elections.
“Don’t be afraid of [COVID-19]?” she asked. “Tell that to the 210,000 families who have lost loved ones. To the Black, Brown and Indigenous folks disproportionately affected.”
“With tens of millions of jobs lost and the economy tanked. Many of us isolated for months,” the actress stressed. “You’re the cruelest. #votehimout”
Don’t be afraid of covid? Tell that to the 210,000 families who have lost loved ones. To the Black, Brown and Indigenous folks disproportionately affected. With tens of millions of jobs lost and the economy tanked. Many of us isolated for months. You’re the cruelest. #votehimout https://t.co/QhM47Pa3lx
— Mandy Moore (@TheMandyMoore) October 5, 2020
Evans also slammed Trump over his remark and stressed the unequal access to drugs that help treat the disease.
“Don’t be afraid of [COVID-19]?!” he expressed. “You’ve been under round-the-clock care by the best doctors using the best drugs. Do you really think everyone has access to that?!”
“Sadly, I’m sure you’re aware of that disparity, you just don’t care,” Evans stated. “This is reckless to a shocking degree, even for you.”
Don’t be afraid of Covid?!
You’ve been under round-the-clock care by the best doctors using the best drugs. Do you really think everyone has access to that?!
Sadly, I’m sure you’re aware of that disparity, you just don’t care
This is reckless to a shocking degree, even for you https://t.co/H8CGlD9DcZ
— Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) October 5, 2020
As for Barba Streisand, she called Trump’s remark “preposterous” before reiterating the number of deaths caused by the virus.
“210,000 American people have lost their lives!” she noted. “Children have lost their parents. Mothers and fathers are gone! How dare he say such a stupid thing.”
“Don’t be afraid of Covid.“ How preposterous! 210,000 American people have lost their lives! Children have lost their parents. Mothers and fathers are gone! How dare he say such a stupid thing.
— Barbra Streisand (@BarbraStreisand) October 5, 2020
Ava Duvernay also aired her opinion on Trump’s comment, saying: “‘Don’t be afraid of [COVID-19]’ he dares say to those of us who have lost loved ones to [COVID-19]. This man is evil.”
“Don’t be afraid of Covid” he dares say to those of us who have lost loved ones to Covid. This man is evil. https://t.co/Ap2dlviXz4
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) October 5, 2020
Trump revealed that he and his wife Melania tested positive for the coronavirus on Oct. 2 and was admitted to the hospital on the same day. Despite his return to the White House, Trump is currently undergoing a five-day course of the intravenous antiviral drug remdesivir and will have to isolate himself for a certain period of time.
The US currently has over 7.4 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 210,000 deaths as of 3:30 p.m. today. Meanwhile, Johns Hopkins University reported that over 35.4 million have contracted the disease worldwide. /ra
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