COVID-19: Aaron Rodgers, M.I.A. and More Stars Who Are Still Anti-Vaxx

Some people are still debating about COVID-19 vaccines, but Sri Lankan singer/songwriter M.I.A. shared her thoughts about vaccines on Twitter Wednesday in response to the news of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones being ordered to pay nearly $1 billion in damages to the families of Sandy Hook victims.

On Wednesday, the Infowars founder and podcaster Jones was found liable for defamation after spending years describing the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, in which 20 first-graders and six school administrators were killed, as a hoax.

As a response, M.I.A., whose real name is Mathangi Arulpragasam, wrote on Twitter, "If Alex jones pays for lying shouldn't every celebrity pushing vaccines pay too?"

She tweeted separately, "Alex jones lying and Pfizer lying both trending . One with penalty other without. If you have no critical thinking faculty, this is about as crazy as we should get before a nuclear war wipe out the human race."

Anti-COVID-Vaxx Celebs

M.I.A. isn't the only celebrity who has expressed anti-vaccine sentiments, especially in the last few years. Here is a brief list of some of the artists and actors who have been on the opposing side of COVID-19 vaccines.

Evangeline Lilly

Marvel's Ant-Man actor Evangeline Lilly was spotted at several different anti-vax rallies late last year and earlier this year, announcing to her fans that she does not approve of government-mandated vaccine policies.

"I believe nobody should ever be forced to inject their body with anything, against their will, under threat of violent attack, arrest or detention without trial, loss of employment, homelessness, starvation, loss of education, alienation from loved ones, ex-communication from society...under any threat whatsoever," Lilly wrote in an Instagram post in January 2022.

"This is not the way," Lilly continued. "This is not safe. This is not healthy. This is not love. I understand the world is in fear, but I don't believe that answering fear with force will fix our problems. I was pro-choice before COVID and I am still pro-choice today."

Offset

On the radio show The Breakfast Club, Offset and the rest of the Migos discussed the COVID vaccine in June of last year. While Quavo said he had gotten the shot, Offset said he had not.

"I'm not an anti-vaxxer," Offset said at the time. "I'm just hesitant because I've never seen them in a rush to remedy any other issue in the Black community."

"There's four different versions," he said. "I ain't trying to do all that. And then one got canceled. I'm not trying to be a lab rat. I'll wait. I'm probably gon' get it." Takeoff didn't say definitively whether he's vaccinated, but was reportedly heard on the show saying "I don't trust it."

Nicki Minaj

Only the real ones on Twitter will remember the iconic rapper tweeting about her cousin's friend's testicles—but Minaj first refused to get the jab in 2021 when the entrance to the Met Gala required it.

"They want you to get vaccinated for the Met. if I get vaccinated it won't for the Met. It'll be once I feel I've done enough research. I'm working on that now. In the meantime my loves, be safe. Wear the mask with 2 string that grips your head & face. Not that loose one," she tweeted in September of last year.

She added, "My cousin in Trinidad won't get the vaccine cuz his friend got it & became impotent. His testicles became swollen. His friend was weeks away from getting married, now the girl called off the wedding. So just pray on it & make sure you're comfortable with ur decision, not bullied."

Minaj was called out for spreading misinformation online, and the rapper admitted that she would probably get vaccinated in order to go on tour.

Letitia Wright

Another Marvel star, Letitia Wright, shared doubts over the years about the vaccine.

On Twitter in December 2020, the Black Panther star shared an hour-long YouTube video from the channel known as On The Table, in which the video questioned the legitimacy of the vaccine.

After beginning to receive ample amounts of criticism, Wright took down the tweet and wrote, "my intention was not to hurt anyone, 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."

Doutzen Kroes

Dutch supermodel Doutzen Kroes became outspoken in September 2021 against the vaccine, posting a photo on Instagram with a lengthy caption that defended her decision to refuse the vaccine.

"I will not be forced to take the shot. I will not be forced to prove my health to participate in society. I will not accept exclusion of people based on their medical status," Kroes wrote. "Freedom of speech is a right worth fighting for but we can only solve this united in peace and love!"

Her post sparked backlash, for which her friend and fellow supermodel, Gisele Bündchen, came to her rescue.

"I know Doutzen and she is a kind and loving person," Bündchen wrote in a comment beneath Kroes' post. "I can't believe the hate being directed at her because she expressed her feelings. It saddens me to see all the judgment and the lack of empathy in so many peoples hearts. Hate is not the answer."

Aaron Rodgers

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers faced criticism late last year after he tested positive for COVID-19 and revealed he was skeptical about the vaccine. There was confusion, though, because, in August, he shared with a reporter that he was immunized for COVID.

When discussing his hesitation, he mentioned that the vaccine could stand to affect his fertility, though he did not cite any particular sources.

His prior immunization turned out to be a reference to a homeopathic treatment allegedly to raise his antibody levels. He said at the time, "It wasn't some sort of ruse or lie, it was the truth. Had there been a follow-up to my statement that I had been immunized, I would have responded with this. I would have said, 'Look, I'm not, you know some sort of anti-vaxx, flat-earther. I am somebody who is a critical thinker.'"

Newsweek reached out to Lilly, Offset, Minaj, Wright, Kroes and Rodgers for additional comment.