Rocker Bryan Adams issues apology after controversial COVID-19 post
Posted May 12, 2020 7:14 am.
Last Updated May 12, 2020 6:41 pm.
Editor’s note: This article contains some tweets with offensive language. Reader discretion is advised.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Canadian rock and roll star Bryan Adams has publicly apologized after he came under fire for a controversial post about COVID-19.
“Apologies to any and all that took offence to my posting yesterday,” Adams writes on an Instagram post. “No excuse, I just wanted to have a rant about the horrible animal cruelty in these wet-markets being the possible source of the virus, and promote veganism. I have love for all people and my thoughts are with everyone dealing with this pandemic around the world.”
The musician was in damage control mode after posting allegedly bigoted misinformation, following a cancelled gig due to the coronavirus pandemic
Adams, who is from North Vancouver, was forced to cancel a residency at London’s Royal Albert Hall because of the crisis. He then took to Instagram and Twitter, blaming the novel coronavirus on “bat eating, wet market animal selling, virus making greedy bastards.”
The source of the virus is still unconfirmed. However, there was an early outbreak of COVID-19 at a mixed animal market in Wuhan, China in December.
His words have angered many, with people taking to social media to call out the controversial posts.
“Now that I see #BryanAdams trending because he’s a racist f******, I am a lot happier that I converted his concert t-shirt into my first ever homemade respiratory mask,” one now-former-fan tweets.
Timothy Caufield, a professor of law at the University of Alberta, and current Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy who specializes in ethical issues in medical research writes, “This tweet from @bryanadams…. ugh. Angry. Stigmatizing. Hate baiting. Scientifically wonky. I get that people are frustrated, but this kind of aggressive messaging from an influencer helps no one.”
North Vancouver rock icon @bryanadams is getting as much support as he is criticism – some say they don't "see the racism" in a tweet and Insta post he made, while others condemn it as anti-Chinese. The pro-vegan rant blamed "virus-making greedy ba***s" for the pandemic @NEWS1130 https://t.co/SJ8iD1EPhN
— Ash Kelly she/her (settler) (@AshDKelly) May 12, 2020
Others, though, are defending Adams, a long time animal rights activist, saying he did not single out any nationality, and that this was just another example of his well-known vegan activism.
“I’m not getting the racist aspect here. I’m getting that he is a staunch vegan & animal rights supporter,” a Twitter user writes. “If we try & find racist connotations when there aren’t any, then we dilute & nullify real racism. People on the receiving end of true racism don’t deserve that.”
I'm not getting the racist aspect here
I'm getting that he is a staunch vegan & animal rights supporter
If we try & find racist connotations when there aren't any, then we dilute & nullify real racism. People on the receiving end of true racism don't deserve that#BryanAdams pic.twitter.com/KXsi3neZV6
— Ｌ Ａ Ｒ Ｋ Ｅ Ｙ (@AlexLarke) May 12, 2020
“Why is no one talking about how dogs are being killed for meat in these wet markets? Bryan Adams is totally correct to be critical of these inhumane, horrific wet markets. People need to educate themselves on what’s happening to animals. Why is no one protesting animal cruelty?” another person tweets.
https://twitter.com/ShayRW4/status/1260205859264700418
Animal rights group PETA even took to Twitter in support of Adams.
Despite the apology, the controversial post remains up on Adams’ Instagram page.
