Every one in a while there’s a COVID-19 story that bubbles up into the media, like when Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson revealed they’d tested positive for the coronavirus while working in Australia. That was news because they were celebrities and there was no vaccine yet. NBC News, republishing a story by the Associated Press, is apparently trying to make a celebrity out of a man who “mocked” COVID-19 vaccinations on social media and died at a hospital after contracting the virus.
They even name and shame him: Stephen Harmon. The Associated Press reports:
Before his hospitalization, Harmon had made fun of vaccination efforts on social media.
“I got 99 problems but a vax ain’t one,” he said in a tweet last month.
On July 8, he posted: “Biden’s door to door vaccine ‘surveyors’ really should be called JaCovid Witnesses. #keepmovingdork.”
What the hell?
The media are a dumpster fire. This is Enemy of the People territory. What the fuck. https://t.co/0TtdQ6aL7K
— Social Distance Champion (@realchrishynes) July 24, 2021
Out: Social Media is where sad people seek approval by broadcasting their hatred for the "other."
In: Mainstream Media is where sad people seek approval by broadcasting their hatred for the "other." pic.twitter.com/P0xpHGHin9— Tim Carney (@TPCarney) July 24, 2021
What’s worse are the commenters:
— unfriendly black hottie🌞 (@janellebeeating) July 24, 2021
100% problem free now
— Citizen Zero Past 30 (@citizendark30) July 24, 2021
I’m ok with this
— Francis Muldoon (@Francis_Muldoon) July 24, 2021
Whoops. Womp Womp.
— ReggieLampert (@ReggieLampert) July 24, 2021
Oh, I do loves me some karma.
— Dorothy Parker (@Dorothy98968101) July 24, 2021
He learned his lesson.
— Sincitydragon (@sincitydragon) July 24, 2021
Recommended
Well now, he doesn’t have to worry about those 99 problems…
— Dan Lederman (@Ledermand) July 24, 2021
I'm having BBQ chicken tonight for dinner. How about Y'all?
— Publicexecuti0n (@usafdirtboyz) July 24, 2021
https://twitter.com/sevblack7/status/1419037165447651330
— Joe (@GatorJoe74) July 24, 2021
Buh-bye
— Steve Shink (@sps2009) July 24, 2021
Bet he was one of the ones begging for the vax as they were about to intubate him. Darwin wins again.
— HooDatGurl 🐶🇺🇸 (@HooDatGurl333) July 24, 2021
https://twitter.com/DanSigner/status/1419068294737190913
Seriously?
lol
— AQB (@LoosNoox) July 24, 2021
— IE (@InsanitiesEdge) July 24, 2021
Bye bye, asshole.
— Stogies & Steak (@SteakStogies) July 24, 2021
It’s nice to know people really care about the victims of COVID.
Why is this news?! And why report it with glee?!
— B. N. Faraj (@bnfaraj) July 24, 2021
It appears NBC is doing the exact same thing they're accusing the dead man of.
— Josh Dolin (@jDaz) July 24, 2021
I hope I’m not mocked when I die, no matter what I say. Doesn’t seem nice for an outlet to make fun of someone for it either.
— Mark Phillips (@markephillips) July 24, 2021
I’m not sure these stories are making the impact you think they are.
— Rawgabbit (@OleRawgabbit) July 24, 2021
No kidding.
— The Unknown Citizen (@zhatx) July 24, 2021
Journalism is hard. pic.twitter.com/F3ekEpj9DE
— Crippling Niles (@CripplingNiles) July 24, 2021
https://twitter.com/ktmacg79/status/1419063891267555329
If the journalisming came from anywhere, it looks like NBC News picked up the story from the Associated Press who picked it up from CBS Los Angeles. It’s not made clear in the original story who thought to go through his social media accounts and make a news story of them.
Related:
Doctor writes in ’emotional Facebook post’ about dying COVID patients begging her for the vaccine https://t.co/P86LL42xBm
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) July 22, 2021
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