The pandemic has become an important part of our adult lives.
Somehow certain icons of pop culture come to mind when we think about the last few years. Here are 8 celebrities I think of when I talk about the pandemic.
1.
Madonna
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Madonna has never been one to shy away from controversy, and it’s no wonder she’s had some strong statements to make about the pandemic. Although some of these will not age well. In March 2020, she called COVID-19 the “great leveler” in a video posted to her Instagram and Twitter handles. An insanely rich celeb posting that didn’t go down well with her fans from the comfort of her own home. She later faced the wrath of the online public when she reposted a video of a doctor spreading misinformation. She called the doctor her “hero” and Instagram tagged the story with a content warning for incorrect information. Both posts were later dismantled.
2.
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson
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Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson were among the first celebrities to contract the coronavirus. On March 11, 2020, Hanks shared that they both tested positive for the virus while preparing to film Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis Presley biopic in Australia. Later, on an episode of Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!, he announced that they both volunteered to donate blood and plasma for a COVID-19 vaccine.
3.
DJ D-Nice
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In the early days of the pandemic, DJ D-Nice launched Club Quarantine, a series of daily live virtual parties on Instagram that brought people together during stay-at-home mandates. Club Quarantine began on March 19, 2020 with 250 participants and quickly grew to more than 100,000 viewers, including Rihanna, Ophrah and Michelle Obama.
4.
Ellen DeGeneres
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According to anonymous sources cited by Variety, Ellen’s employees have been kept in the dark about their hours and pay. When they finally received official notice, they were asked to expect a 60% cut in their salaries even though the show aired. “This ‘be nice’ nonsense only happens when the cameras are on. It’s all just for show. I know they give people money and help them, but it’s for the show,” a former employee told BuzzFeed News.
5.
Daniel Dae Kim
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On March 19, 2020, Daniel Dae Kim took to Instagram and posted a 10-minute video about his experience testing positive for the virus. In the video, he used his platform to raise his voice against the anti-Asian hatred that had sprung up during the pandemic. “Please, please stop the prejudice and senseless violence against Asians,” he urged viewers. “Yes, I’m Asian, and yes, I have coronavirus. But I didn’t get it from China. I got it in America, in New York City. And despite what certain political leaders want to call it, I don’t consider the place it comes from as important as the people who are sick and dying. If I did, I’d call this thing the New York virus. But that would be silly, wouldn’t it?”
6.
Lady Gaga
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During the pandemic, Lady Gaga curated the One World: Together At Home concert organized by the Global Citizen of New York in support of the World Health Organization. This special, broadcast worldwide, helped raise $128 million for frontline health workers. “I am honored to be a part of the World Health Organization and a global citizen in the fight against COVID-19 and raising money for the Solidarity Response Fund. I care so much about all the medical staff who are putting their lives on the line for us right now. I think of her every day, I pray for her every day, and I also think of everyone who is at home wondering when this will all be different,” Gaga said during the show.
7.
Chris Cuomo
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Chris Cuomo, a former CNN anchor, has been a notable public face of the pandemic thanks to his show Cuomo Prime Time and joking interviews with his brother and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. However, Chris lost his job after it was revealed that he was using his media sources and references to help with his brother’s allegations of sexual harassment.
8th.
Evangeline Lili
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In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Lilly posted on Instagram that she dropped her kids off at the gym camp, which she called “business as usual,” despite orders to maintain social distancing and curb the spread of the coronavirus. When fans left comments criticizing her for ignoring expert advice, she defended herself by saying some people value their freedom and dubbed the virus “respiratory flu”. She later released another post apologizing for her actions and informing fans that she is indeed practicing social distancing.
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