Musician Kanye West (US) has described the coronavirus vaccine as “the mark of the beast,” in reference to a conspiracy theory that Bill Gates wants to insert microchips into people through a vaccine. West also stated that vaccines are paralyzing children, referring to another conspiracy theory that Gates tested a polio vaccine in India and paralyzed 500,000 children.
Reality TV star and social media influencer Kim Kardashian (US) shared an excerpt from a book written by a psychic in 2008 that predicted a coronavirus-like illness would spread globally in 2020, disappear on its own, reappear a decade later, and then vanish completely. The post had originated with her sister, Kourtney Kardashian.
Mark Grenon (US), a self-described archbishop of Genesis II church, has both promoted and sold Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS), a toxic bleach substance, as a cure-all for many illnesses, including COVID-19. The FDA has warned against using MMS since it can cause illness and death. Grenon is currently facing charges of conspiracy and fraud for selling MMS through his church.
Mike Lindell, CEO of MyPillow (US), has praised oleandrin, a toxic substance found in the poisonous plant oleander, as a ‘miracle cure’ for the coronavirus. Oleandrin is not approved by the FDA and there is no evidence that it is safe or effective as a cure for COVID-19. There is evidence that it may be harmful to the human heart. Lindell is on the board of Phoenix Biotechnology, one of the companies that sells oleandrin, so he stands to profit from increasing its sales.
Musician MIA (UK) has repeatedly tweeted conspiracies about 5G technology exacerbating coronavirus and correlating with pandemics. She has also tweeted anti-vaxx conspiracy theories about the coronavirus, suggesting the vaccine is a secret way to inject people with microchips to track them, stating “If I have to choose the vaccine or chip I’m gonna choose death.”
Social media influencer and QAnon supporter Jordan Sather (US) has promoted Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS), which is a form of bleach, as a treatment for coronavirus. He has also promoted the conspiracy theory that Bill Gates created the coronavirus as a pretense to insert microchips into people through a vaccine.
Actor Woody Harrelson (US) has promoted the conspiracy theory that 5G networks cause coronavirus. He posted on Instagram that radiation from 5G “is exacerbating” the spread of coronavirus and making it more deadly. He also posted an old video of protestors in Hong Kong attacking phone masts, implying there was a connection, although the protestors were concerned about data collection and not 5G.
Pop icon Madonna (US/UK) claimed that hydroxychloroquine is a cure for coronavirus, despite evidence that the drug is ineffective in treating coronavirus and has dangerous side effects. Madonna argued that the drug is being hidden by powerful people who want the public to live in fear so the rich can get richer.
David Icke (UK), a self-described conspiracy researcher, is a super-spreader of the conspiracy that 5G networks cause coronavirus. He has also claimed that the coronavirus doesn’t exist, and is a pretense to implant “nanotechnology microchips” through the vaccine in order to engage in social control.
YouTube fitness influencer Holly Dolke (UK) posted a video entitled “How to build immunity for the CORONAVIRUS” in which she claimed that vitamins and supplements, such as zinc and vitamins C and D will help prevent being infected by the virus.
Alex Jones (US), pundit and founder of InfoWars, has peddled bogus coronavirus cures, such as colloidal silver toothpaste. He stoked fears of food shortages to persuade people to stock up on his “emergency survival” bulk food during lockdown. He simultaneously argued that COVID-19 doesn't actually exist, and is just a pretense for social control. Jones also profited from 5G conspiracies by selling "5G Kills" t-shirts.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has touted the benefits of hydroxychloroquine -- a drug used to treat autoimmune diseases -- as a means of preventing and treating coronavirus, despite evidence that the drug is ineffective in treating coronavirus and has dangerous side effects.
Alessandro Meluzzi, a former Member of the Italian Parliament from the center-right party Forza Italia, shared the Plandemic conspiracy documentary on Twitter, as well as a video claiming that Hillary Clinton, Mark Zuckerberg, the Gates Foundation, and the United Nations want people to fear the virus, which was created by the “deep state,” and that vitamins are the cure for the coronavirus.
Claudio Messora is an Italian blogger and media consultant for the populist party. He helped to spread the views of Italian anti-vaxxer and pharmacologist Stefano Montanari, who claimed: that only three people died from COVID-19 in Italy (it was 3,405 by that point), blamed coronavirus on the Italian healthcare system which he said was in ruins due to corruption, and said that vaccines are just a hoax designed to make money.
Spanish Instagram influencer Paula Gonu posted to her 2 million followers that drinking hot water kills the coronavirus because “at a temperature of 27 degrees or higher the virus does not live.” Her false claim does not consider the fact that normal human body temperature is 37 degrees Celsius, 10 degrees hotter than the supposedly hot water that prevents COVID-19.
Fox News primetime host Laura Ingraham (US) shared a tweet about how Bill Gates wants to digitally certify those who receive the Covid-19 vaccine. She replied to the tweet, stating: “digitally tracking Americans’ every move has been a dream of the globalists for years,” refering to the conspiracy theory that Bill Gates wants to insert microchips into people through a vaccine.
Donald Trump: Bleach, UV Light, Hydroxychloroquine
US President Donald J. Trump has erroneously stated that bleach and UV light may be able to be used internally to treat coronavirus. He has also touted the benefits of hydroxychloroquine--a drug used to treat autoimmune diseases--as a means of preventing and treating coronavirus, despite evidence that the drug is ineffective in treating coronavirus and has dangerous side effects.
Hollywood actress and lifestyle brand Goop founder Gwyneth Paltrow (US) responded to the coronavirus by promoting and selling products like elderberry chew and Goop Wellness ‘Balls in the Air’ vitamin packs -- none of which have been shown to help with coronavirus.
