In a new interview with conservative radio host Mark Levin, far-right media commentator and outspoken anti-vaxxer Glenn Beck says he has contracted COVID-19 for the second time in a year—just like scientists said was likely to happen to people who refused the vaccine.
Beck said publicly last year he was refusing the vaccine because he didn't think he needed it after already having had COVID-19 in April 2021.
Now, Beck says he has a case of the disease he called "disturbing" in his interview with Levin, during which he frequently coughed and worried about the fact the illness was "getting into his lungs."
Hear a clip from his interview with Levin below.
on Mark Levin's radio show, Glenn Beck announced:\n\n-he has COVID\n\n-he's taking ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine (doubt it)\n\n-He's a "fatty-fat-fatso"pic.twitter.com/Ck5xzT4MCY— Brendan Karet (@Brendan Karet) 1642042195
Beck dropped his COVID news on Levin right at the top of the interview, when Levin asked him how he was doing.
Beck replied:
“I am great, Mark. I am great, Mark, despite having COVID and seeing the destruction of our country..."
"It’s starting to go into my lungs today and a little disturbing. I’m on all the medications and treatments and everything else, so."
Those "medications and treatments" include the parasiticide Ivermectin, which is not an approved treatment for COVID and has caused a handful of deaths, and former Republican President Donald Trump's much-vaunted drug hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria medicine that is also not an approved treatment for COVID.
Both treatments are beloved by anti-vaxxers, right-wing conspiracy theorists, and a former Republican President. But Beck was careful to tell Levin he is not a COVID denier and he is taking his secound bout seriously.
As he put it:
"I know it is real. I am a fatty-fat-fatso, so that is probably not the best thing, and I got some other issues.”
But he also told Levin he's "not concerned about it."
Which in a way he shouldn't be, because what has happened to him is pretty much precisely what scientists have said for nearly a year would happen to people like Beck, who rely upon previous infections to protect them.
Scientists have cautioned immunity conferred by a prior infection is unlikely to last longer than six months. Beck's infection was nine months ago. It's almost like these scientists know what they're talking about.
Anyway, on Twitter, Beck garnered very little sympathy.
Nothing says "natural immunity is the best approach" quite so clearly as Glenn Beck getting Covid ... for the second time.— Ward Q. Normal (@Ward Q. Normal) 1642088925
You hear Glenn Beck, sick with COVID in his lungs, talking to Mark Levin, and they run through all the things Genn should do/should have done, none of which include getting the free working vaccine. SMH.— Mr. Newberger (@Mr. Newberger) 1642087244
Glenn Beck Edition:\n\nHow it started How it\u2019s goingpic.twitter.com/lgCjrfqShE— connectpoliticditto. (@connectpoliticditto.) 1642090432
So Glenn Beck fell for his own nonsense & didn't get vaccinated. Now it's spread to his lungs. As someone who has lung problems, I don't wish it on anyone. You'd think Glenn was smart enough to vaccinate himself while peddling the lies like the rest of the RW media has done.— Russell Foster for Texas (@Russell Foster for Texas) 1642091542
Glenn Beck, who still refuses to get vaccinated, has COVID again and said it\u2019s now in his lungs. So naturally, the covidiot is taking ivermectin.\n\nBut hey, at least his worms won\u2019t have COVID.— Gabe Sanchez \uea00 (@Gabe Sanchez \uea00) 1642091199
Between "thoughts and prayers", ivermectin and urine, I'm sure Mr. Beck will be just fine.— Chrono(phasia)Lighting (@Chrono(phasia)Lighting) 1642087127
Glenn Beck has Covid AGAIN. How's that natural immunity working out for you, big guy?— Ty Webb (@Ty Webb) 1641480423
I wish Glenn Beck a speedy, full recovery, and the same for anyone who refused vaccination because of his lies.https://twitter.com/thedailybeast/status/1481601940098273286\u00a0\u2026— Eric Swalwell (@Eric Swalwell) 1642092048
Glenn Beck apparently has COVID *yet again* - which begs the question:\n\nWhy have we *never* seen Karma and Natural Selection in the same room together???pic.twitter.com/eKWtt9dy3X— Mark Judson For Congress - Scorched Earth Dem 2022 (@Mark Judson For Congress - Scorched Earth Dem 2022) 1642085518
glenn beck is aiming for that bolsonaro high scorepic.twitter.com/7VNpUjSMMU— the gryphoneer resurrections (@the gryphoneer resurrections) 1642105489
We wish Beck a speedy recovery, and the good sense to get vaccinated afterward.