A conservative radio host and a vaccine skeptic, who said he would not be vaccinated because he had a “low risk” of contracting COVID-19 and dying from it, died after being hospitalized for the virus, his employer said. .
Phil Valentine’s death at the age of 61 was announced Saturday by Nashville’s 99.7 WTN SuperTalk radio station. The Tennessee-based talk radio host was first hospitalized in late July with the virus.
A statement from his family at the time of his hospitalization said his illness led him to think and lament the importance of vaccines and encouraged people to “go get vaccinated.”
John Start using AP Phil Valentine, presenter of the conservative talk show, seen in 2009, has died after being hospitalized with COVID-19, his employer announced.
Phil would like his listeners to know that while he has never been an ‘anti-cowboy’, he regrets not being more vehemently ‘pro-vaccine’ and looks forward to defending that position as soon as he is back on the air, that we all hope it will be soon, ”his family said in a statement posted to Facebook by the radio station.
Valentine had expressed skepticism about coronavirus vaccines and masks on his radio show and on social media, with one of his last tweets on July 15 questioning the safety of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
In December, he tweeted that people should do a “risk assessment” on whether they should be vaccinated.
“I have a very low risk of A) dying from COVID and B) if I do. Why would I risk having a heart attack or paralysis with the vaccine?” He posted.
He also recorded a parody of the Beatles, “Vaxman,” mocking the vaccine.
Calling all HuffPost superfans!
Sign up to be a founding member and help set up the next chapter of HuffPost