Idris Elba responded to critics who said his wife, Sabrina Dhowre Elba, should not have appeared with him in his video announcing he tested positive for the Coronavirus (Covid-19).
In a video on Twitter.com, Elba asked his fans not to panic over his positive test. He said he was self-isolating until he tested negative.
But his followers couldn’t help noticing Sabrina breathing all over him in the video – as if she too was infected.
Elba wasn’t here for the disrespect to his wife.
“Sabrina wanted to be by my side,” he insisted in a follow-up video tweet. “As much as we talked about her not coming to where I am, she did and wanted to. And I would do the same for her.”
Elba, who has no symptoms, said his wife took the test on Tuesday, and they are awaiting the results, which usually takes 24-48 hours.
In a second video, Elba chastised TikTok users and others who believe the virus doesn’t affect Black people due to Black folks having less ACE2 enzyme receptors than other races and ethnicities.
“Please stop sending the, um, conspiracy theory nonsense about Black people not being able to get Coronavirus — Covid-19,” he said. “It’s dumb, it’s silly, it’s very dangerous.”
He left out the part that most healthy people – himself included – experience no symptoms or mild symptoms. No other so-called “deadly virus” behaves this way. A deadly virus is usually deadly to most people who contract it — not the other way around.
So what’s really going on?
Watch the videos below.
— Idris Elba (@idriselba) March 17, 2020
— Idris Elba (@idriselba) March 17, 2020
This morning I tested positive for Covid 19. I feel ok, I have no symptoms so far but have been isolated since I found out about my possible exposure to the virus. Stay home people and be pragmatic. I will keep you updated on how I’m doing ???? No panic. pic.twitter.com/Lg7HVMZglZ
— Idris Elba (@idriselba) March 16, 2020