Country music star Blake Shelton has found himself in hot water this week after he was hit with backlash for sharing misinformation about the coronavirus pandemic on social media.
Fox News [1] reported that Shelton was called out by his followers for tweeting a COVID-19 statistic that turned out to be unfounded. The tweet, which has since been deleted, claimed that the CDC [2] had “quietly” changed its statistics to depict how “only 6%” of people who died from the coronavirus “actually died from Covid” because “the other 94% had 2-3 other serious illnesses.”
In reality, the CDC said that “Covid-19 was the only cause mentioned” for 6% of deaths, with the other 94% having preexisting conditions. However, these 94% could have lived on for many years if they hadn’t contracted the virus.
“I’m not even sure which side(politically) this would land on,” Shelton tweeted on Sunday. “But am I the only person who sees the new CDC update as some actual good news? Just that. Not left or right… Just updated info that’s better than we thought. I mean does everything have to be a fight these days?”
I’m not even sure which side(politically) this would land on. But am I the only person who sees the new CDC update as some actual good news? Just that. Not left or right… Just updated info that’s better than we thought. I mean does everything have to be a fight these days?
— Blake Shelton (@blakeshelton) August 30, 2020 [3]
“Sorry I should’ve been more clear. I’m talking about 6% news,” he added. “Again I’m not looking for an argument from either side. I just see it as some better news is all.”
Sorry I should’ve been more clear. I’m talking about 6% news. Again I’m not looking for an argument from either side. I just see it as some better news is all. https://t.co/IqZORYGAfU [4]
— Blake Shelton (@blakeshelton) August 30, 2020 [5]
Despite saying that he wasn’t looking for a fight, many fans immediately started challenging the “The Voice” judge.
“This is what I’m talking about.. I’m not going to argue at all because I’m not advocating for anything,” Shelton wrote in response to one fan. “What is the fight? Covid is horrifying. That’s it.”
This is what I’m talking about.. I’m not going to argue at all because I’m not advocating for anything. What is the fight? Covid is horrifying. That’s it. https://t.co/oRbs2usxeN [6]
— Blake Shelton (@blakeshelton) August 30, 2020 [7]
As the drama continued to escalate, Shelton felt that he had no choice but to remove himself from the conversation.
“Whew… I can see that there’s no way a fight won’t erupt about this stuff,” he tweeted. “No matter how you slice it. And that’s last thing I wanted. Stay healthy and safe everyone.”
Shelton has spent the past few months in quarantine at his home in Oklahoma with his fiancé, Blake Shelton, and her sons. Though the COVID-19 pandemic has obviously been terrible, Shelton has made it clear that he has enjoyed having more time to spend with his loved ones in quarantine.
This piece originally appeared in UpliftingToday.com [8] and is used by permission.
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