Celebrities in general have been feeling pretty tone deaf throughout this pandemic.
It began with the "Imagine" video in March, posted by Gal Godot and featuring celebrities a cappella singing John Lennon's song in whatever key they seem to have woken up to and been in the mood to sing that day.
Madonna also received backlash over a bathtub video early in the pandemic. Not one to give up after a first go, Madge decided to ire the public again.
The Material Girl became the latest celebrity to fall victim to pseudoscience and conspiracy theories with an outlandish claim with severe consequences for her social media accounts.
.@Madonna posted wild conspiracy theory about COVID-19 to social media. Instagram displayed a "False Information"… https://t.co/DuAFtrkwXu— Pop Crave (@Pop Crave)1595990958.0
The video she posted contained repeatedly debunked misinformation about the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 and hydroxychloroquine.
It also claimed that a MUCH awaited vaccine for the virus was in existence but was being intentionally withheld to "let the rich get richer."
Instagram censored the post with the disclaimer that it contained false information.
Dr. Fauci: "The scientific data, the cumulative data on trials, clinical trials that were valid ... all of those tr… https://t.co/qn82R8bjUy— Kyle Griffin (@Kyle Griffin)1596074404.0
“At this point, we can definitively say hydroxychloroquine doesn't work,” Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former FDA commission… https://t.co/5MUT1SvIjR— Ana Cabrera (@Ana Cabrera)1596074272.0
Many did not take kindly to Madonna's spreading of misinformation, including fellow 80's icon Annie Lennox, who responded with:
"This is utter madness!!! I can't believe that you are endorsing this dangerous quackery."
"Hopefully your site has been hacked and you're just about to explain it."
Annie Lennox is my hero. https://t.co/zdoQEe64RF— Nicolás (@Nicolás)1595993808.0
@TrueFactsStated Who would have guessed in the 80’s that 40 years later, Annie Lennox would still be cooler and sma… https://t.co/J5NgKYN60W— Opinions are mine (@Opinions are mine)1596038843.0
If you had told fourteen-year old me that one day Annie Lennox would be calling out Madonna over pseudoscience cons… https://t.co/DyaYMWpxCm— Erik the Rural Juror (@Erik the Rural Juror)1596028189.0
The Immaculate Collection was the first album I bought with my own money. I all but literally worshipped Madonna t… https://t.co/bmZbalJhki— Daniel Summers, MD (@Daniel Summers, MD)1596028220.0
Know who I’ve also loved for the same amount of time? Annie Lennox. https://t.co/EwfyJsB8pr— Daniel Summers, MD (@Daniel Summers, MD)1596028437.0
Madonna did not, however, "explain it."
Hydroxycholorquine has proven time and again to be counterproductive when addressing the pandemic. In fact, hoarding of the medication caused a worldwide shortage, leaving people who need access to the medication, including Malaria patients, at a defecit.
The FDA warned against the drug as the pandemic spread.
The New England Journal of Medicine says #hydroxycholoroquine DOES NOT WORK either to treat or cure #COVID19. Why a… https://t.co/cHpTrkCxvB— Eugene Eugenius 🌊 (@Eugene Eugenius 🌊)1596038061.0
I’m a science fiction fan, so when I saw Alien DNA trending I was intrigued. Did not expect it was related to a koo… https://t.co/OeooDHeFM5— Ted Lieu (@Ted Lieu)1595984771.0
Oh well, he can take #hydroxycholoroquine https://t.co/JYaeocPPhY https://t.co/TmuO53LOhG— Jersey Girl for Real (@Jersey Girl for Real)1596033899.0
Dang! You figured us out! We're "pushing" #hydroxycholoroquine so Pres.Trump & Putin can make big $$$ on that $12… https://t.co/9KKx5oHGUP— Kelly Victory MD (@Kelly Victory MD)1595969112.0
@MeidasTouch Hey @realDonaldTrump STOP SPREADING MISINFORMATION ABOUT #COVID19 AND #hydroxycholoroquine It's dang… https://t.co/kuEv3HXzdK— Adam Cohen Lawyers for Good Government #DemCast (@Adam Cohen Lawyers for Good Government #DemCast)1595948420.0
In a time where misinformation can be deadly, it's important to check your sources before posting information.