Actor Idris Elba has dismissed claims he was charged for claiming he had contracted coronavirus, calling it a theory of “bullsh*t.”
The 47-year-old actor, who recently revealed he had tested positive for coronavirus, went to Instagram Live to shut down rumors and conspiracy theories that celebrities were paid to say they were infected with the virus.
“I think the debate about rich and poor and who’s getting it and who’s not, I think, is not a healthy debate. It’s like, I got a test but I also got COVID. Does that make me preferential? I don’t understand that,” Elba said.
“It shouldn’t be about whether rich or poor gets it. I think that the negativity around test-shaming is counterproductive. I don’t see what people get out of that. And also this idea that someone like myself is gonna be paid to say I’ve got coronavirus, that’s absolute bullsh*t. Such stupidness
Elba further said “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.”
Sabrina Dhowre Elba’s wife also tested positive for coronavirus, stated that he is “not an actor right now”.
“I’m just a human being and I just happen to be in the public eye. So I want people to understand that this is very real. I don’t feel like I’m privileged because I got a test because I actually contracted it,” he concluded.
Rapper Cardi B had shared a conspiracy theory earlier this month. She said celebrities who are tested COVID-19 positive are all paid.