Ice-T has rarely held back on sharing his opinions, and he certainly hasn’t done so during COVID, remaining a staunch supporter of masks and social distancing throughout 2020. But it turns out not everyone close to him felt the same.
The Law & Order: SVU actor took to Twitter last week to share that his father-in-law has been fighting a COVID infection in the ICU for 40 days…and that he “was a serious ‘No Masker.’”
“COVID hit him. Pneumonia in both lungs. 40 days in ICU close to death. Now he’s on Oxygen indefinitely,” he wrote. “Ohhh he’s a Believer now.”
My father-in-law ‘Coco’s dad’ was a serious ‘No Masker’ COVID hit him. Pneumonia in both lungs.. 40 days in ICU close to death.. Now he’s on Oxygen indefinitely. Ohhh he’s a Believer now.. #COVIDisNotAGame pic.twitter.com/fPEifkJCge
— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) November 29, 2020
It’s been difficult for everyone trying to stay safe during the pandemic to watch anti-maskers continually fight for their right to act like a devastating disease is a hoax or “just the flu,” and Ice-T has been no exception to that rule.
On the same day that he shared information about his father-in-law’s condition, he also posted a viral video of an anti-masker tantrum, followed up by acknowledging that he’s lost six good friends to COVID so far.
Oh shit.. This Karen is a Scientist! In her mind… https://t.co/uFahLIzq9t
— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) November 29, 2020
I have 6 DEAD close friends from this Virus.. You need to shut the Fuck up… https://t.co/1HzJxWPdPp
— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) November 29, 2020
Still, naming and shaming an anti-masker in your family who contracted COVID — not to mention possibly passed it along to others if they weren’t taking precautions — isn’t something anyone does lightly, and Ice-T was clear that he chose to share this story as a warning to others.
Clownass, If I’m willing to use a family member that I love, as an example of someone coming close to death from a virus that I assume you think is fake.. And I’m trying to warn people.. Then it must be serious to me. Brandon you’ve got a lotta nerve.. https://t.co/hlfSmfWFO8
— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) November 30, 2020
I would NEVER wish ANYONE sickness… I don’t need that Karma.
— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) November 29, 2020
The responses to his reveal were varied, with a predictable amount of people still coming in to falsely insist wearing a mask wouldn’t stop the virus, while others lamented the continued refusal of so many Americans to take such minimal steps to protect themselves and others.
The non-maskers make it harder for everyone & many times their own self.
But they mostly make it harder for us to get the virus under control and get a sense of stability and normalcy. And that makes me angry. Best wishes for your FIL’s recovery. I don’t wish this on anyone.— JBN RN (@JNelsonRN) November 29, 2020
So.. if that’s true, why not go to a covid ward and take a deep breath without a mask. Sure, we may all get it, but if your mask can save someone even if you don’t intend to or even care, what’s the harm???
— Glenda (@gjtownsend) November 29, 2020
My mom just told me that their neighbor’s family member died of COVID & they’re *fighting to have it removed from the death certificate* because they still think it’s a hoax. Smfh pic.twitter.com/Ycfbbaugay
— em ✨🌙 (@golddust27) November 30, 2020
It also has and will continue to mutate if we keep playing stupid. Get the vaccine and for the love of god, wear a mask, distance, eye protection and wash your damn hands often. Our healthcare workers are frayed, worn out and breaking down! It is the least we can do!
— Vote 2021 (@brandythomas100) November 30, 2020
https://twitter.com/ucshotdogandbun/status/1333267661560578048
Pneumonia is a build up of fluid in your lungs caused by an infection of virus. COVID is the virus, pneumonia is the outcome
— Amy Mullen (@amz_mullen) November 29, 2020
THIS. My friend and her whole family had covid. Thankfully all survived, but now have issues that they have to live with forever…she has respiratory issues, her daughter has seizures, and her son prob has permanently lost his sense of smell.
— Nettey Farol (@Nettey128) November 30, 2020
No, but I really feel for the exhausted and overwhelmed medical personnel who had/have to care for them.
— Baerly B. Good (@BBaerly) November 29, 2020
And no small number commented on the way everything’s been so politicized, including Ice-T himself.
Honestly.. A lot of no maskers only do it because they’re listening to the President.. Just sayin. https://t.co/uB4KUQXSXx
— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) November 29, 2020
I hope your Father-in-Law recovers from this horrible horrible virus. Trump is responsible for gaslighting a majority of his supporters into believing that Covid-19 is just a hoax, a "fear bug", until the Rona attacks them. Then some of them blame the hospital. It's tragic~
— BOBBI (@BOBBIDOLLS) November 29, 2020
Some of them never believe. I read a thread filled with nurses saying some anti-maskers go to the grave still swearing it’s a hoax while gasping for breath.
— Beauty Protector (@BeautyProtector) November 29, 2020
I do. People aren't doing this stuff because they're being malicious, they're doing it because they've been brainwashed by conspiracy theorists and it's sad. The people who are knowingly spreading BS on their platforms, however, don't deserve any sympathy.
— 𝑳𝒖𝒌𝒆𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒎 𝑻𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 (@Lil_Frey) November 29, 2020
Hopefully Ice-T’s father-in-law is going to be okay, but maybe his story will actually shake some sense into at least one or two people who have been on the fence about masks or social distancing. Nine months into the pandemic, you’d really think everyone would be taking things more seriously by now.