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Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey has announced he will interview Dr. Anthony Fauci, the world-leading infectious disease expert and White House coronavirus task force member.
In a post on Instagram, the Dallas Buyers Club actor—who has 3.8 million followers—said he would be "talkin shop" with Dr. Fauci.
According to McConaughey, the interview will be streamed on Instagram live on Thursday, August 13, at 6:30 p.m. EST.
To watch the Instagram Live, visit McConaughey's profile at the time of the event and tap or click on his profile picture to view the video.
McConaughey did not elaborate on what the pair will discuss, although it's safe to assume the topic of the COVID-19 pandemic may come up, as cases surge across the U.S.
Fauci is a top immunologist who has served as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984. Following a decades-long career as researcher, he is among the most cited scientists of all time, ranking 41st in a Google Scholar analysis, according to the NIAID.
Fauci has advised six presidents on a range of health issues, including the HIV/AIDs crisis. As McConaughey won the 2014 Oscar for best actor for his portrayal of Ron Woodroof, a real-life 1980s AIDS patient, in Dallas Buyers Club, it is possible that the handling of that crisis may come up in the Instagram conversation.
In January, Fauci was announced as a member of the White House coronavirus task force, currently led by Vice President Mike Pence. Other members include Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Dr. Deborah Birx, White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator.
But unlike his fellow members, Fauci has become an unlikely celebrity amid the pandemic, with his likeness appearing on $25 bobble heads, and donuts. And over 27,000 people have signed a Change.org petition calling for People magazine to name him Sexiest Man Alive 2020. If he wins in November, he will join the likes of singer John Legend, actor Idris Elba, and country singer Blake Shelton.
The response to McConaughey's announcement on Instagram was mixed, with one user writing, "You lost me at Fauci" and another stating "science, knowledge, intelligence" alongside the raised hand and heart emojis.
McConaughey has used his profile to push health messages during the COVID-19 pandemic, and took part in the One World Together At Home event to celebrate health workers in April. In May he delivered 110,000 face masks to hospitals in rural Texas, according to his Instagram.
In May, he told Fox News' Special Report with Bret Baier: "I could feel that this united purpose we all have as Americans to beat this enemy and this virus, that purpose got hijacked by partisan politics."
He said: "The narrative became, if you want to go to work, you're on the far right. If you don't go to work, you want to stay home, you're on the far left.
"And now even the mask wearing is getting politicized, where if you want to wear a mask, you wear a mask, you're a liberal. And if you don't, you're conservative. And that's just not true."
The headline of this article has been changed to reflect the interview will be conducted via a live stream.
About the writer
Kashmira Gander is Deputy Science Editor at Newsweek. Her interests include health, gender, LGBTQIA+ issues, human rights, subcultures, music, and lifestyle. Her ... Read more