While the rest of the world grapples with the terrifying reality of living during a global pandemic, as COVID-19 determines the very parameters of our day-to-day lives, there’s a group of celebrities suffering from another concerning condition: misinformation.
The scary part is that this misinformation is then being shared with the thousands and sometimes millions of people who follow these high profile celebrities.
Opposition to the rollout of 5G isn’t new, but as the COVID-19 death toll continues to rise, the deadly virus is now being bizarrely tied to the radio frequency upgrade.
There’s also an alarming rise in the sharing of ‘alternative medicines’ and claims we don’t need a vaccine to defeat the coronavirus – or that when a vaccine becomes available, it’s likely to be dangerous.
WATCH: Celebrities are getting creative in isolation. Post continues after video.
COVID-19 – the highly contagious respiratory virus that’s spreading from human-to-human – has now infected more than two million people, killing more than 100,000 worldwide.
In recent weeks, a number of 5G conspiracy theories have started to pop up, rearing their ugly heads and confusing an already terrified and vulnerable population.
The current COVID-19 figures.
Some of the claims put forward include the argument that self isolation is simply a ploy to install 5G towers, that Wuhan (where the virus originated) has a high number of 5G towers, and that 5G suppresses the immune system.
The problem is, even though these theories have been debunked by experts (time and time again, you can see them quoted here), celebrities and reality TV stars with huge followings are helping them to linger, fester and continue to spread.
On Tuesday, The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise star Bill Goldsmith posted to his Instagram following of 40,000 people: “What if I told you that 60GHz of 5G shot out of a transmitter has the ability to stop the human body from being able to absorb oxygen?
“Would you then care about having “quicker” internet and phone reception?”
He followed up his post with a number of Instagram stories, directing his followers to his ‘proof’, while also engaging with commenters explaining that Google can’t be trusted, and everyone has the right to post what they like on their social media.
As Chris Fleming, Associate Professor in the School of Humanities at Western Sydney University and author of Modern Conspiracy: The Importance of Being Paranoid, told the ABC, “The marriage of conspiracy theory and pandemics has a long history, and the resurgence of anti-5G at this time is unsurprising, there’s a sense of sad inevitability about this stuff.”
He's not the only Australian reality TV star buying into this dangerous misinformation.
Last week, 2020 Married at First Sight alumni Amanda Micallef claimed the pandemic was part of a conspiracy to cover up a much larger agenda.
The 34-year-old has made numerous posts in the 'Stop5G Victoria' Facebook group, which is opposed to the 5G network over health concerns about radiation.
"For those of you who don't know who I am, I'm Amanda from MAFS 2020. I'm ready to put my rep on the line because I'm sick and tired of house arrest and ready to protest! WHO'S IN?" read her first post in the group.
"Im talking camera crews, journos, hundreds of people! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH THEY CAN'T LOCK US LIKE THIS WHEN WE KNOW THEIR AGENDA. Any ideas on where to protest would be great," she continued.
As Director of the Department of Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust Professor Malcolm Sperrin explained to Science Direct, “There is no sensible link between the use of 5G frequencies and COVID-19 or any other biological virus or bacteria. This sort of conjecture only contributes to the risk to individuals who are prepared to believe such non-science as opposed to the considerable efforts being made by medical science to enable the population to protect themselves in an informed manner."
Married at First Sight's Hayley Vernon recently shared a video on her Instagram page from Krystal Tini, a self professed "truth seeker" who claims that "this is not a pandemic by any means," and "if you don't realise yet that you are being lied to about the numbers, about how you're catching it, you need to seriously research now."
"Do you trust your government?" Hayley wrote in her caption. "[Krystal] I couldn’t agree any more with what you said during this video."
Amanda and Hayley boast 63,000 and 59,000 followers respectively, but it gets scarier still when celebrities like model Miranda Kerr, with 12 million followers, chef Pete Evans, with 231,000 followers, and actress Isabel Lucas, with 190,000 followers also join in the conspiracy chants.
Isabel, who you'll recognise from Home & Away and Transformers, has posted about her opposition to 5G on her Instagram page in recent weeks.
She compared the movement questioning the safety of 5G technology to the #MeToo movement for sexual harassment, commented that she didn't "trust the path of vaccination" in response to a post by chef Pete Evans, and shared anti-5G commentary from both pro surfer Taj Burrow and Evans on her own platforms.
"Why has it been proven that microwave radiation (EMF) is a powerful immune suppressant, harmful to humans, animals, plants - yet telco companies are installing the towers on top of schools, hospitals and near our homes... whilst we are in lockdown?' she asked her followers earlier this month.
Pete Evans did a live social media video last week in which he extolled the virtues of something called a BioCharger NG — a ‘light therapy’ device that he claims can be used to treat COVID-19.
On the brand’s website, the product (which costs AU$23,670) is billed as “a hybrid subtle energy revitalisation platform that works to optimise your health, wellness, and athletic performance by aligning and balancing the energy of every cell in your body.”
According to Evans, “it’s a pretty amazing tool” that contains “a thousand different recipes and a couple on there for Wuhan coronavirus”.
Inside the guide, William recommended those with COVID-19 try "zinc shock therapy" by squirting two drops of zinc sulfate into their throat every three hours.
He also advised people have two raw cloves of garlic daily, and drink celery juice to help protect against the virus.
This is a man who has no medical qualifications and according to his website was, "born with the unique ability to converse with Spirit of Compassion who provides him with extraordinarily accurate health information that’s often far ahead of its time."
Dr Joshua Wolrich, a surgical doctor, was among the medical experts to criticise Kerr, writing on her Instagram post: "ABSOLUTELY NOT. Do better with your influence. This 'virus protection' guide is full of unscientific nonsense that has ZERO medical validity."
Former Married at First Sight contestant Tracey Jewel is also claiming to have solutions to "prepare and prevent" coronavirus.
"With the uncertainty and fear of the coronavirus situation we are faced with at the moment, there are many things we can do. We are offering programs and hiring frequency device healys for immune and bioenergetic boosting as well as protection Australia wide," she posted on Instagram.
Speaking to Mamamia about these types of claims, Dr Brad McKay explained, “When gaps appear in our knowledge, people try to fill those gaps. People survive when the gaps are filled with science, but when the gaps are filled with pseudoscience, people die.
“Intelligent people in white lab coats are working hard to come up with answers, but answers aren’t instant,” he added. “Researchers need time, funding, and resources before they are able to provide us with the information we need."
The above are just a handful of the celebrities spreading misinformation about coronavirus. There are many, many more.
So let's get something straight:
Coronavirus is not caused by 5G, alternative medicine will not cure you, and a vaccine is vital in our fight out of this pandemic.
Make sure you're getting your information from the experts - not your favourite celebrity.
Feature image: Getty/Instagram.
To protect yourself and the community from COVID-19, keep at least 1.5 metres away from other people, regularly wash your hands and avoid touching your face.
If you are sick and believe you have symptoms of COVID-19, call your GP ahead of time to book an appointment. Or call the national Coronavirus Health Information Line for advice on 1800 020 080. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.
To keep up to date with the latest information, please visit the Department of Health website.
Top Comments
So I didn’t see your qualifications when you say “5G isn’t caused by Coronavirus, alternative medicine won’t cure you and a vaccine is vital in OUR fight against a pandemic” - are you an electrical engineer, doctor and scientist to state all of that or is it your personal belief?
Once upon a time journalists used to research before they commented, that was however before we sensationalized everything to get ratings- such a shame society hs stopped to such low levels that you need to fear and discredit everyone!
Comments from experts and links to other information were in the article.
I counted 5 people quoted, actual doctors and scientists, who are saying those things.
Is Pete Evans an electrical engineer, a doctor or a scientist? Are any of the conspiracist crazies electrical engineers, doctors or scientists? Funny how you don't ask that.
Forget the 5G conspiracies, I'm still keeping a close eye on the microwave - I know it's up to something, and it ain't good.
Building a new house, wife insists we put the microwave at my waist height. Not sure what to make of that....