Idris Elba Responds to ‘Absolute Bulls**t’ Coronavirus Conspiracy Theory

Photo credit: Presley Ann - Getty Images
Photo credit: Presley Ann - Getty Images

From Men's Health

  • Idris Elba responded to a conspiracy theory claiming the government was paying celebrities and NBA players to say they tested positive for the coronavirus.

  • Elba responded to the theory, which came from rapper Cardi B, by calling it "absolute bullshit."

  • He also discussed the divide between the rich and the poor in getting testing in a lengthy Instagram Live session.


A few days ago, rapper Cardi B got some steam when she baselessly speculated on an Instagram Live that the government was paying celebrities and NBA players to say that they've contracted the coronavirus. “If y’all are… pay me too,” she said. Now, Idris Elba—who last week announced that he tested positive for COVID-19—is blasting the unsubstantiated theory as 'absolute bullshit.'

Elba responded to this notion, along with several other common talking points, in an Instagram Live video. "This idea that someone like myself is gonna be paid to say I've got coronavirus? That's absolute bullshit," he said while not mentioning the New York City rapper by name. "Such stupidness. People wanna spread that as if it's news. That's stupid. It's the quickest way to get people sick because there's no benefit to me and Sabrina sitting here saying we've got it or we ain't got it. I don't even understand the logic of that."

In his Instagram Live, Elba also took time to address the growing chatter about the divide between the rich and the not-so-rich when it comes to getting tested for COVID. "I think the debate about rich and poor and who's getting it and who's not, I think, is not a healthy debate," Elba said. "It's like, I got a test but I also got COVID. Does that make me preferential? I don't understand that."

The Hobbs and Shaw and Luther star's wife, Sabrina Dhowre Elba, revealed in an interview with Oprah Winfrey that she, too, tested positive.

Elba also made sure to call for widespread testing as a way to curb the spread of the virus. "It shouldn't be about whether rich or poor gets it," he said.

You can check out his Instagram Live below:

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