Black Panther Star Letitia Wright In Hot Water Over COVID-19 Video
In early December 2020, actor Letitia Wright trended on Twitter for all the wrong reasons. The Black Panther star took to the platform on Dec. 3 to share a lengthy video of a self-described prophet, according to BuzzFeed, who questioned not only the safety of a COVID-19 vaccine — but if it would cause "extra limbs" to form on humans. The tweet containing the video has since been deleted in the wake of massive backlash from social media users.
As per Page Six, the hour-long video began with "presenter" Tomi Arayomi revealing he doesn't "understand vaccines medically." "I don't understand vaccines medically, but I've always been a little bit of a skeptic of them," he said.
"We can just get [the vaccine] out there and hope it doesn't make extra limbs grow, hope to God you don't develop children that have 11 fingers and 12 toes ...," he continued. "We have seen vaccines do damage before."
Twitter users immediately responded with outrage to Wright's tweet containing the video, including one famous face.
Letitia Wright's fellow Marvel actor Don Cheadle called the video 'hot garbage'
After Letitia Wright shared the anti-COVID-19 vaccine video on her Twitter account, she was met with fierce backlash from fans.
"Letitia Wright I hate it had to be you sis WHY," questioned one user. "You posted something suggesting that the vaccines were injecting Lucifer, that's a wee bit more than just questioning if it's safe," shared another. "You couldn't read an article from an actual doctor? Or a scientist? Or even a news outlet? You trust some random YouTube video? Where is the critical thinking in that?" demanded a third person.
Even Don Cheadle, who is also a part of the Marvel Universe, weighed in with shock.
"jesus... just scrolled through. hot garbage," he tweeted about the video Wright shared. "every time i stopped and listened, he and everything he said sounded crazy and f****d up. i would never defend anybody posting this. but i still won't throw her away over it. the rest i'll take off twitter. had no idea."
Letitia Wright (kind of) apologized for posting the anti-vaccine video
After Letitia Wright was heavily criticized on Twitter for posting the controversial anti-COVID-19 vaccine video, she first doubled down on her stance.
"if you don't conform to popular opinions. but ask questions and think for yourself....you get cancelled," she wrote, including a crying-laughing face.
However, Wright soon changed tack and clarified her "intention of posting the video."
"my intention was not to hurt anyone," she tweeted. "my ONLY intention of posting the video was it raised my concerns with what the vaccine contains and what we are putting in our bodies. Nothing else." Still, people didn't exactly accept her reply. "No, you are spreading misinformation and fear, especially in the Black community which has been impacted most. It's irresponsible and arrogant. The video you posted isn't from a doctor or scientist, but from some random dude on YouTube," one Twitter user responded.
As for whether Wright will be "canceled" over the situation or if this will be a blip in her career remains to be seen.