Covid Skeptic Phil Valentine Dies Getting Coronavirus

U.S.|Phil Valentine, a vigor big who scoffed astatine Covid, past urged his followers to get vaccinated, dies.

• Published Aug. 21, 2021Updated Aug. 22, 2021, 12:25 p.m. ET

Phil Valentine, a salient blimpish vigor big successful Tennessee who refused to get vaccinated, past urged his followers to get a changeable aft being hospitalized with Covid-19, has died, his presumption said connected Saturday.

Mr. Valentine scoffed astatine the request for vaccines, writing connected his blog that his chances of dying from the virus, should helium go infected, were “way little than 1 percent.”

He announced his Covid-19 diagnosis connected July 11 and pledged to instrumentality to his amusement wrong a time oregon two.

“Unfortunately for the haters retired there, it looks similar I’m going to marque it,” helium wrote. “Interesting experience. I’ll person to capable you successful erstwhile I travel backmost connected the air. I’m hoping that volition beryllium tomorrow, but I whitethorn instrumentality a time disconnected conscionable arsenic a precaution.”

Less than 2 weeks later, his vigor station, 99.7 WTN, announced that the Nashville big was hospitalized “in precise superior condition, suffering from Covid pneumonia.” The connection said Mr. Valentine had had a alteration of bosom and urged others to get a vaccine.

“Phil would similar for his listeners to cognize that portion helium has ne'er been an ‘anti-vaxer’ helium regrets not being much vehemently ‘pro-vaccine,’ and looks guardant to being capable to much vigorously advocator that presumption arsenic soon arsenic helium is backmost connected the air, which we each anticipation volition beryllium soon,” the presumption said.

Some radical responded to the announcement with words of enactment for Mr. Valentine, portion others said helium deserved to get sick.

On Saturday, the presumption announced connected Twitter that Mr. Valentine had died, urging followers to “keep the Valentine household successful your thoughts and prayers.”