Within hours of the singer Meat Loaf’s death on Thursday after a reported bout with COVID-19, some took to social media to mock his stances opposing mask and vaccine mandates.
Meat Loaf’s family and representatives have so far not confirmed either his cause of death or his vaccination status, but TMZ cited sources saying that he was ‘seriously ill with COVID’ when he passed.
Running with his stated opposition to mandates, many critics assumed that the famed singer was unvaccinated, and took the opportunity to heap scorn on him.
‘In the end, he finally let us know what that one thing was that he wouldn’t do for love: Get vaccinated,’ tweeted Gene Wu, a Democrat in the Texas state House of Representatives, referring to the lyrics of I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That).
‘Meat Loaf would do anything for love except get vaccinated,’ another Twitter user similarly tweeted.
Within hours of the singer Meat Loaf’s death on Thursday after a reported bout with COVID-19, some took to social media to mock his stances opposing mask and vaccine mandates
Progressive activist Brianna Wu tweeted: ‘Not going to point out that he was an anti-mask science denier who had a very serious case of Covid. Not going to point out how he used his public platform to encourage others to ignore precautions. Just going to wish his family and loved ones comfort.’
‘But I think it’s entirely ethical to mock public figures who engage in destructive behavior with Covid and then die,’ added Wu.
Tech culture journalist Xeni Jardin tweeted that Meat Loaf ‘was a pandemic a**hole.’
‘If you were and are a fan? I get it, not mocking your love. But the dude was a d*** about the pandemic. Sounds like he f***ed around and found out,’ added Jardin.
MSNBC host Joy Ann Reid was more circumspect, paying tribute to Meat Loaf’s performance in Rocky Horror Picture Show, which she called ‘gloriously campy and rude fun!’
She added: ‘His views on COVID vaccine mandates are feeling like yet another cautionary tale, but will just leave it at RIP and condolences.’
The singer born Marvin Lee Aday died Thursday at the age of 74, after suffering many health issues in recent years.
Two weeks ago, his daughter Pearl posted on Instagram that a number of her ‘friends and family’ had tested positive. She did not specify whether her father was one of them, but said: ‘Thank their respect for science that they’re all vaxxed, otherwise they’d be way worse.’
It remains unclear whether or not he was vaccinated – he refused to disclose it to fans, and urged them all not to talk politics when coming to his shows – and his family has not revealed if he died at his home in Nashville or in the hospital.
Meat Loaf told a fan three weeks ago that he’d recently had an endoscopy and complained about seemingly endless lockdowns and restrictions, telling the fan in a Cameo video: ‘COVID’s a drag, but you can blame China. ‘
In the paid-for Cameo video, he tried to sing Happy Birthday to a fan called Marty but his voice croaked.
‘I can’t really sing too well because I had anesthesia today and I had a pipe shoved down my throat. An endoscopy this morning. Ugh, Marty take care.’
In the paid-for Cameo video, he tried to sing Happy Birthday to a fan called Marty but his voice croaked. ‘I can’t really sing too well because I had anesthesia today and I had a pipe shoved down my throat. An endoscopy this morning. Ugh, Marty take care’
He then said he hoped the fan would be able to enjoy his birthday with friends and family, saying: ‘I hope that you’re able to have at least your family celebrate your family with you. COVID is a drag and we’re all suffering because of it but you can blame China.
‘I love you Marty, and one more thing – keep rocking.’
In an interview last August, he said he was against politicians trying to force restrictions on people. The singer asked the journalist from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette whether or not they’d like a hug.
‘I’m happy to give you a hug. I hug people in the middle of COVID,’ he said. The reporter replied: ‘You do? You’re not afraid?’
Meat Loaf, who was severely asthmatic and battled a range of other health issues before the pandemic, said: ‘Oh, I’m scared to death! You kidding me? But I’m sorry, I understood stopping life for a little while, but they cannot continue to stop life because of politics. And right now they’re stopping because of politics. And on CNN last night, it finally came out that the masks we’re all wearing are useless. But I’ve known that for six months. They don’t do anything. They don’t stop you from getting COVID. They’re just a nuisance and make your nose itch and make it so you can’t breathe.’
The reporter said: ‘Oh, God. We’re being controlled by everybody’ to which he replied: ‘Yeah, I know. But not me. If I die, I die, but I’m not going to be controlled.’
Sources told TMZ that he would also rail against vaccine mandates, particularly in Australia. In May last year, he shared Eric Clapton and Van Morrison’s anti-lockdown post Stand and Deliver.
March last year: Singer Meat Loaf and country artist John Rich perform at Redneck Riviera Nashville on March 27, 2021 in what was his final show
This is believed to be the last picture of Meat Loaf in public. It was taken on November 21 in Nashville, at a benefit for the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation
The pair released the song to raise money for struggling artists and musicians whose careers were stamped out by COVID and in particular, the punitive measures in the UK against the music industry.
Meat Loaf said of it: ‘A song of Great Interest preformed by someone I know named Eric and someone I met named Van. A song of great interest and learning. Listen and Learn. Love you much.’
The singer, who was born Marvin Lee Aday, died with his wife Deborah at his side – and while no cause or other details were given by his family, he had suffered numerous health scares over the years. Meat Loaf had an extraordinary career over six decades with the Bat Out Of Hell trilogy among his most popular musical offerings.
His hits included the near ten-minute title track from Bat Out Of Hell, Paradise By The Dashboard Light from the same album, and I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That) from 1993 album Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell.
The single I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That) reached number one in 28 countries and earned him a Grammy award. The rocker also played the role of Eddie in the 1975 musical film The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
US singer Meat Loaf, whose hits included Bat Out of Hell, has died aged 74, a statement on his official Facebook page said
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