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THE WALL OF THE INFAMOUS

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THE WALL OF THE INFAMOUS

THE CELEBRITIES WHO PROMOTED THE COVID VACCINES

Abir Ballan, MPH
Feb 27
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THE WALL OF THE INFAMOUS

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CONTENT:

I. Why are celebrities used to promote products and brands? (An overview of some behavioural science insights)

II. Why are we influenced by celebrities?

III. A message to the celebrities who didn’t do their homework

IV. Case Study: PFIZER ad video 

V. The wall of the Infamous

[Please overlook typos or inconsistencies]

Celebrities, Celebrities, Celebrities…

Love them or hate them … you’ve got to live with them and be influenced by them whether you like it or not…

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I. Why are celebrities used to promote products and brands?

As much as we’d like to think that our decisions, behaviours and even our opinions are a direct result of our conscious thinking, unfortunately they are not. Many influences act upon us at an unconscious level. Most of our actions are decided on the basis of heuristics, our feelings, the opinions of prominent people that we trust, the opinions of the group (because we don’t want to stand out)...

Here’s a list of some of the factors that influence our behaviour:

TABLE 1: MINDSPACE: Influencing Behaviour Through Public Policy (UK GOV)

Here’s another useful list- TABLE 2

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II. Why are we influenced by celebrities?

  1. We like them

  2. We look up to them

  3. We want to be like them and emulate them because we want to associate ourselves with them (they are hot, cool, fancy, rich, pretty, famous…)

  4. We don’t want to disappoint them. We want them to be proud of us (just like we want our parents to)

  5. If we see many, many, many celebrities saying the same message, we end up believing that there is a social norm about a given issue/product and we certainly like to fit in and not stand out. We are social beings. We need to belong to a group and it’s hard to be rejected by our community. 

Corporations and governments know this insight about us and they use it to manipulate us into doing what they want us to do regardless of whether it is in our best interests or not. Who decides what’s in our best interest anyway? Who decides what the ‘greater good’ is? Is there such a thing as the ‘greater good’? Are the rule of the majority and utilitarian calculus not forms of tyranny? 

Many celebrities participated in promoting the Covid19 vaccines. 

Some did it voluntarily and out of goodwill because they believed it was the right thing to do…

Others did it because they were paid…

And others because it fits their agenda…

Regardless of their motives, at least the first two groups did it without knowing the first thing about the vaccines they were promoting. 

But when you are a celebrity and you know that companies reach out to you to influence the behaviour of people, don’t you have an ethical obligation to carefully choose what you promote? Shouldn’t you do your homework first?

Many clearly failed to do so. (It would be too disturbing to think that they did their homework and yet resolved to promote these products anyway.)

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III. A message to the celebrities who didn’t do their homework

I am hereby informing you so you cannot say you didn’t know (this is a lame excuse anyway):

  1. These vaccines received Emergency Use Authorisation illegally by suppressing available treatments (e.g. unjustified attacks on Ivermectin) and with the use of fraudulent trial data for a disease that is just another cold for the largest part of the population

  2. They are based on a brand new technology– never used before on humans for the purpose of vaccination. We don’t know what their long term side effects are, whether the mRNA is inserted into our genetic code, how long they stay active in our bodies, whether they will lead to autoimmune disease because our cells are fabricating the foreign body and attaching it to the surface of our cells (flagging our own cells as foreign) …

  3. The Covid vaccines suppress immunity for 2 weeks following the shots

  4. They provide waning immunity (if you believe the trials) that dips into negative immunity after 6 months

  5. Your chances of catching covid increases with every additional booster

  6. Natural immunity is better than the immunity provided by the vaccine

  7. Vaccine adverse events following these vaccines are very alarming. The pharmaceutical companies knew about them. 

  8. Read this INFORMED CONSENT for all the references

PLEASE SHARE THIS SUBSTACK WITH YOUR FAVOURITE CELEBRITY SO THEY KNOW.

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IV. CASE STUDY: PFIZER AD VIDEO 

The goal of the Pfizer video is to increase everyone’s sense of susceptibility and heighten fear about the virus and transmission. This is then followed with a clear call to action to make plans to prevent Covid19.

First, the false premise…

“If this were the real covid19 [showing a red ball], I would be in real trouble because I have asthma.” Pink

Notice the use of  “if this were the real covid 19”. This is a falsehood upon which the entire claims of the video are based. If Pfizer is sued for false information, they could claim that since covid 19 [not even the name of the virus (SARS-CoV-2)] is not a big red ball then they didn’t say anything wrong. 

MESSENGER  (Table 1) & TRUST (table 2)

The celebrities share personal testimonies to gain the viewers’ trust and compliance. Their fans like them and they will listen to their recommendations.

PERSONALISATION (Table 2) of the message to the viewers:

They are calling on people with different health conditions.

Jean Smart: “being over 50 or being a smoker can put you at serious risk”

Questlove: “I struggle with my weight, for us COVID is a whole different ball game”

Michael Phelps: “You need to be ready and have a plan”

ASTHMA  is not a risk factor for covid-19. (Reference)

DEPRESSION- Is this due to the suppression of the immune system as a result of lockdowns, isolation and fearmongering (anxiety and stress)?

DIABETES and OBESITY are risk factors, but the best way to deal with that is to improve your lifestyle choices. 

BEING OVER 50 is not a risk factor by itself. In fact, for people under 70, the median infection fatality rate (IFR) is 0.05 percent (Ioannidis, 2021).

Questlove asks: “Could that be you?”. He is PERSONALISING the message to you directly in order to make you feel part of the high-risk group. 

SALIENCE (Table 1) 

They are using a ball in a red menacing colour to represent the ‘scary’ virus. This is to leverage your intuitive "red for danger" heuristic.  They are making the virus a tangible object to tell you that it is real. Notice the close-up shots of the red ball.

NORMS (Table 1 - the comfort of belonging to the majority)

They use the large figure of ‘200 million Americans’ to increase everyone’s sense of susceptibility.

LOSS AVERSION (INCENTIVES- Table 1)- our inclination to avoid loss or bad outcome

Pink says “If you get covid like I did on top of asthma, the last thing you want is wait and see”

Note that she never mentions whether she was severely ill when she got covid. This information was simply omitted. Not even in her Insta post. The threat is left hanging.

VISUALISATION - Technique used in teaching to explain processes

Notice that they are throwing the ball to each other while being in completely different settings to make you visualise transmission (even when you are not in the same room which is false) and amplify your fears.

A lot of work went into this one min video. It was all done to manipulate you. 

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V. THE WALL OF THE INFAMOUS

Many thanks to my friend Sue Walters for her feedback on this Substack and for collating the below list and many thanks to all the people who contributed to it. See TWITTER thread. 

George Clooney: “I support mandatory vaccines period. I think every company should do it.”

Ryan Reynolds: “This is our shot”- source

Elmo’s Dad: “I learned that Elmo getting vaccinated is the best way to keep himself, our friends, neighbours and everyone else healthy and enjoying the things they love”

Peppa Pig - source

Jamie Lee Curtis

Source

Stephen Colbert: “The Vax-Scene” VIDEO

F1 Drivers: VIDEO 

F1-Charles Leclerc: “Take care of your close ones”

F1-George Russell: “Play your part”

F1-Lando Norris: “Protect your community, please do get the vaccine”

F1-Sebastian Vettel: “Get vaccinated, its the sensible thing to do”

F1-Max Verstappen: “Please do your bit”

F1-Pierre Gasly: “It’s a small thing”

F1-Antonio Giovinazzi: “It will make a big difference”

F1-Lewis Hamilton: “Covid has not gone away”

F1-Fernando Alonso: “We need to be in this together”

F1-Daniel Ricciardo: “I just encourage everyone to get it so we can all move forward”

F1-Mick Schumacher: “ I just encourage everyone to get it”

F1-Lance Stroll: “So we can all move forward”

F1-Esteban Ocon: “Remain cautious and protect yourselves”

F1-Carlos Sainz: “Play your part and protect the community”

F1-Yuki Tsunoda: “Keep around you safe”

F1-Sergio Perez: “If you have the opportunity to get vaccinated, please do”

F1-Valtteri Bottas: “Let’s keep ourselves safe”

F1-Jean Todt (President of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile): “Stay safe”

F1-Stefano Domenicali: “I’ve had my vaccine, actually I did my booster. Do your bit please”

F1-Nicholas Latifi: “Protect your community”

F1-Nikita Mazepin: “take a vaccine”

Hugh Jackman: “Wolverine's healing ability can't save me from Covid. But the vaccine can. Get it” (source)

Mark Ruffalo: “Who else is willing to help?”- Source

Chris Rock: “Get vaccinated”- Source

Sofia Vergara: “not enough people are vaccinated”- Source

Jennifer Aniston: "We are extremely lucky and privileged to have access to Covid-19 vaccines in the U.S. right now. Unfortunately, that's not the case everywhere... and as we know, the health of one of us affects all of us"- Source

Dolly Parton: “Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine. I'm begging of you, please don't hesitate," she sang. "Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine. Because once you're dead, then that's a bit too late." Source

James Corden & Ariana Grande- VIDEO

Morgan Freeman: “If you trust me, you’ll get the vaccine” - VIDEO

Barack Obama: “It will protect you and those you love”- VIDEO

George Bush: “ In order to end this pandemic it’s important for our fellow citizens to get vaccinated”- VIDEO

Wilson Cruz: “These vaccines are 100% effective” - VIDEO

Ann Curry: “It’s not about you and it’s not about me, but protecting our people”- VIDEO

Jon Huertas: “there’s a safe vaccine out there, a safe vaccine, that will keep us from getting critically ill and reduces the spreading of the virus to the ones we love”

John Leguizamo: “I got my Covid vaccine because we have already lost too many from our black and brown communities, and the vaccines are nearly 100% effective at stopping hospitalizations and death”

Grey’s Anatomy cast members: “ Safe vaccines can get us back to doing the things we love”

CCH Pounder: “It’s been tested and proven 90% effective in keeping you safe from Covid”

Gabourey Sidibe: “They cut red type not science”

Debra Norville: “I got my vaccine because I miss my family”

Alyssa Milano: “It is safe and effective”

Big Bird: “I got the COVD-19 vaccine today”

Twitter avatar for @BigBird
Big Bird @BigBird
I got the COVID-19 vaccine today! My wing is feeling a little sore, but it'll give my body an extra protective boost that keeps me and others healthy. Ms. @EricaRHill even said I’ve been getting vaccines since I was a little bird. I had no idea!
1:09 PM ∙ Nov 6, 2021
267,871Likes41,431Retweets

Family Guy:

Twitter avatar for @FamilyGuyonFOX
Family Guy @FamilyGuyonFOX
Watch the new #FamilyGuy Short! Stewie and Brian travel inside Peter’s body to explain how vaccines work. Have questions about the COVID-19 vaccines? Visit GetVaccineAnswers.org for the most accurate and timely facts so we can all get back to the moments we love and miss most.
4:36 PM ∙ Sep 21, 2021
54,660Likes23,337Retweets

Sean Penn: “I don’t believe that people have a right to point loaded guns in other peoples faces which is what they do when they go unvaccinated into the population”

Twitter avatar for @DrLoupis
Dr. Anastasia Maria Loupis @DrLoupis
Truly a psychopath.
8:10 PM ∙ Feb 14, 2023
32,077Likes6,407Retweets

Arnold Schwartzenegger: “Come with me if you want to live”- Source

Whoopi Goldberg: “Get the shot”

Elton John & Michael Caine: "The more people in society who get vaccinated, the more chance there is of eradicating the national Covid pandemic. "It's really important to know that the vaccines have all been through and met the necessary safety and quality standards." Source

Martha Stewart: “Help protect yourself and your loved ones”

Twitter avatar for @pfizer
Pfizer Inc. @pfizer
America’s favorite hostess @MarthaStewart shares why getting a COVID-19 booster was such an important part of her holiday planning. 🎁 Learn more about eligibility and how you can stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations: on.pfizer.com/3HIOgOS
6:00 PM ∙ Dec 15, 2022
24Likes9Retweets

Miss Universe - Andrea Meza- Source

John Legend: “To know that my parents are getting it, my older family members are getting it, my wife got it, my mother-in-law got it... is really relieving... It means that a lot of this devastation & destruction & separation that we've seen in the past year is almost over.”

Twitter avatar for @CBSMornings
CBS Mornings @CBSMornings
WATCH: @johnlegend teamed up with @Walgreens earlier this month to encourage everyone to get vaccinated against #COVID19. He joins us to discuss his role in the vaccine push and shares an exclusive video of the moment he got his vaccine at Walgreens.
1:13 PM ∙ Apr 28, 2021
125Likes38Retweets

VIDEO 

Billie Eilish: “If I Weren’t Vaccinated, I Would Have Died” - Source

Jurgen Klopp: “"I got the vaccination because I was concerned about myself but even more so for everyone else around me”- Source

Rhythm of Life in support of Covid Vaccinations: David Walliams, Jim Broadbent, Russel Tovey, Nicola Roberts, Asa Butterfield

Anthony Anderson: “I would have to say, getting vaccinated was a walk in the park"- Source

Former Presidents and First Ladies 'It's Up To You' :60 | Ad Council and COVID Collaborative- VIDEO

Former Presidents and COVID-19 Vaccine Facts | Ad Council and COVID Collaborative- VIDEO 

Holderness Family Music: It's Vaccination Day! - "For The First Time In Forever" Frozen Parody

The Late Late Show with James Corden: No Lockdowns Anymore w/ Ariana Grande & Marissa Jaret Winokur

“Vaccinate!” (Harvey Milk Day performance 5/22/2021)

Dangerous Orwellian Advice: Doctors Warn Men To Get Covid Vaccination: 'Do It For Your Penis' - Source

Unbelievable! UK Health Security Agency Launches "Santa Gets Boosted" Campaign

Source

Canadian Propaganda Video Encourages Children To Comply With Santa's Covid-19 List - Video

Fauci Tells Children Santa Is "Good To Go" - "I Vaccinated Santa Claus Myself"

Sesame Street: Elmo Gets the COVID-19 Vaccine | PSA

Parents and Covid Vaccines - Big Bird

Pfizer Tells Kids Vax Will Make Them Superheroes, Give Them Superpowers

Be A Vaccine Hero | COVID-19 Child Vaccination Campaign

Geneseo Teen Celebrates Autism Awareness, Covid-19 Vaccination With Song

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio promotes a new incentive to get vaccinated: Shake Shack

'Joints For Jabs' Vaccine Program Growing In Popularity

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital Ad Seeks To Normalize Myocarditis In Children

Vax Live Concert participants: 

Participant: Jennifer Lopez:

Participant: Foo Fighters & AC/DC’s Brian Johnson:

Participant: Ben Affleck & Jimmy Kimmel:

Participant: J Balvin:

Participant: H.E.R:

Participant: Selena Gomez:

Participant: David Letterman:

Participant: Eddie Vedder:

Participant: Prince Harry:“Misinformation is not simply harming those who believe it, but those who don’t,” he said, “We must tackle each of these issues head on: vaccine hesitancy and misinformation.”

Participant: Chrissy Teigen:

Celebrities and Politicians getting the Covid19 vaccine -SOURCE

Hilary Duff:

Skylar Austin:

Sarah Hyland:

Kate Middleton: "Yesterday I received my first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at London's Science Museum. I'm hugely grateful to everyone who is playing a part in the rollout — thank you for everything you are doing,"

Prince William:

Gayle King: "It is my superpower. I am vaccinated”

Julia Roberts:If you are not vaccinated and have the GOOD FORTUNE to get vaccinated- go, go, go! #weareinthistogether”

Ben Vereen:"I am so grateful for the vaccine and hope that this might also inspire people that have not been vaccinated to get one, not only for their protection but their family and friends and really for all of us"

Jessica Alba & Cash Warren: "Mom and dad are vaxxed”- Source

Trisha Yearwood: Source

Dwayne The Rock Johnson: ”Keep on keepin’ on. #vaccination”Z - Source

Mila Kunis & Ashton Kutcher: "We're vaccinated"

Kristen Bell: Source

Ellen DeGeneres: “We did it” - Source

Nick Offerman: “Folks got my #2 for myself but also for others like you for example”- Source

Kevin Richardson: Source

Kerry Washington: “For my family. For the people I love. And for all of YOU! Are you vaccinated yet? Who are you vaxxing for?” Source

Jenna Dewan: “fought back tears of gratitude” Source

Kathy Griffin: “2nd Moderna shot” Source

Justin & Sophie Trudeau: ”We owe it to ourselves, our loved ones, and our front line workers — including those who are administering these vaccines” Source

Lin-Manuel Miranda: Source

Patrick Mahomes: “To me, it was more of a personal decision with having a baby girl and knowing I was going to be around people” Source

Mindy Kaling: “Vaxx'd wax'd and ready to pay my tax" - Source

William Daniels: “Thanks to the vaccine I've been reunited with old friends AND old haunts” Source

Bret Baier: “Vaccinated & ready to go" Source

Dana Perino: “Second shot in the arm”

Twitter avatar for @DanaPerino
Dana Perino @DanaPerino
Second shot in the arm. Jasper joined me. Thanks to @HMHNewJersey Let’s go, America!
Image
4:35 PM ∙ Apr 16, 2021
3,121Likes97Retweets

Andy Cohen- Source

Katie Couric: “I am so stoked that I got poked” - Source

Joe Jonas & Sophie Turner- Source

The Today Show Crew: ”I'm so thankful for the science and the scientists” - source

Mariah Carey: ”Encouraging you guys to all do this when you can” Source

Karl-Anthony Towns: Source

Eric Church: “I view [the vaccines] as a God sent miracle, You've got to get needles in arms" - Source

Hoda Kotb: “One down! One to go” - Source

Willie Geist- Source

Thomas Sadoski & Amanda Seyfried: “It's better than OK to get vaccinated because states are rapidly expanding eligibility," “We’re gonna get to the end of this together!”

Source

Julia Louis-Dreyfus: “Fully jabbed! Fully grateful!" - source

Blake Lively: “Find you someone who looks at you like I look at the heroic nurse vaccinating me” - source

Jim Acosta: “The latest studies show the Covid-19 vaccines are highly effective. Please do your part to end this pandemic. Get your shot!"

Twitter avatar for @Acosta
Jim Acosta @Acosta
Just the shot in the arm I needed. The latest studies show the Covid-19 vaccines are highly effective. Please do your part to end this pandemic. Get your shot!
Image
2:58 AM ∙ Mar 30, 2021
58,425Likes5,073Retweets

Jim Brolin & Barbra Streisand: “Jim and I feel so much more protected after having our second vaccine shot and we hope the rest of you get protected too"

Twitter avatar for @BarbraStreisand
Barbra Streisand @BarbraStreisand
Jim and I feel so much more protected after having our second vaccine shot and we hope the rest of you get protected too.
Image
10:01 PM ∙ Mar 29, 2021
65,050Likes2,608Retweets

Kelsea Ballerini: “Closer to being closer"- source

Tamron Hall: “Love and gratitude to the volunteers and staff @templehealth who are tirelessly working answering questions and giving the vaccine”- source

Amy Schumer: “I feel excited and hopeful" Source

Oprah Winfrey: “I'm Grateful Beyond Description" Source

Rosario Dawson: “"You know, the science tells us that these vaccines are safe and effective at preventing COVID infection and serious illness.” Source

Arsenio Hall, Danny Trejo & Magic Johnson - Source

Buzz Aldrin: “I want to thank all the scientists, healthcare workers, and government officials who worked tirelessly to develop and distribute the Covid-19 vaccine in record time and safely, to the world.”

Twitter avatar for @TheRealBuzz
Dr. Buzz Aldrin @TheRealBuzz
Received my first Covid-19 vaccine today, a couple of days prior to my 91st birthday. Special thanks go to two outstanding patriots, Vlad Ghenciu Esq and Brian M Cronin, for their invaluable assistance, and to my organization, Buzz Aldrin Ventures LLC for permanent support.
Image
1:34 AM ∙ Jan 19, 2021
6,352Likes489Retweets

Sharon Stone Source

Patti Smith - source

Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt Source

Louie Anderson:

Richard Petty - source

Yo-Yo Ma- source

Kim Cattrall - Source

Carole King - source

All 9 Supreme Court Justices

Gloria Steinem- source

Mavis Staples: “I encourage everyone to get yours as soon as you have the opportunity."- source

Stanley Tucci

David Harbour: “Protect the ones you love." - source

Marc Jacobs: “"I've been Pfizer'd" - source

Donald and Melania Trump: “ go get your shot” - source

Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter- source

Amanda Kloots: “Everyone should be getting this vaccine, and anyone that gets it, we should be celebrating that one more person has got the vaccine." - source

Paul Stanley: “I got my SECOND COVID SHOT this morning! So grateful and THRILLED. PLEASE, let's ALL stay safe as possible and continue to watch out for each other.”

Twitter avatar for @PaulStanleyLive
Paul Stanley @PaulStanleyLive
I got my SECOND COVID SHOT this morning! So grateful and THRILLED. PLEASE, let's ALL stay safe as possible and continue to watch out for each other.
Image
7:37 PM ∙ Feb 16, 2021
12,342Likes515Retweets

Bette Midler: “I'm incredibly relieved, I'm feeling like, 'Oh I can do anything,' but of course, I can't”

Cindy McCain: “She didn't want to come visit because she was in Arizona when the pandemic started and I was here ... I think she was worried, because Arizona had such huge spikes, that she was worried about getting it and bringing it” source

Jonathan Van Ness: “In NY, where I'm working the vaccine program expanded to include people w pre-existing conditions, being HIV+ is one of the conditions that allows folks to be vaccinated, so if you're HIV+ please check your states guidelines to see if you're eligible and get vaccinated against covid-19!” - source

Stephen King: “Get it done, folks. Let's kill this thing."

Twitter avatar for @StephenKing
Stephen King @StephenKing
I waited for a vaccination appointment, and patience was rewarded. Drive-thru in Pasco County. Moderna. No adverse effects. I think it was the National Guard running the show. Very cool. Get it done, folks. Let's kill this thing.
1:58 AM ∙ Feb 6, 2021
93,865Likes7,465Retweets

Tituss Burgess: “10 outta 10 would recommend." source

instatituss
A post shared by Tituss Burgess (@instatituss)

Isabella Rossellini: “Second dose of covid vaccine done!” - source

Christie Brinkley: “A Real Shot in the Arm!” - source

Cameran Eubanks: “Science is cool and I am grateful for it!" - source

Candice Bergen: “The second shot is the one people feel.” - source

Vera Wang: “Here we go.... getting it done. Doing my part.” - source

Ozzy Osbourne: “As soon as I got it, I felt relieved” - source

Prince Charles & Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall - source

Susan Lucci: “So excited! Easy-peasy” - source

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THE WALL OF THE INFAMOUS

abirballan.substack.com
15 Comments
Colleen Huber NMD
Writes The Defeat Of COVID
Feb 27·edited Feb 27

There is another unique and specifically helpful role of celebrities:. Much of their lives, lifestyles and lifespans are visible to all of us. So when we see a vibrant active baseball legend Hank Aaron suddenly dead within 2-3 weeks of the COVID vaccine, we can all see that something looks wrong. Then it keeps happening, including to much younger celebrities

I'm no celebrity expert, and I know less than most about celebrities, so I can't write this article, but someone should (no pressure):

2020:. The year of COVID. No celebrity deaths in the US, except for Herman Cain, who already had late stage cancer.

2021-2022. The years of the vaccine. Celebrities start dropping like flies, many deaths and many injuries. Canada's two (arguably) most famous performers, Dion and Bieber, are both seriously injured by the COVID vaccine.

Celebrities are uniquely positioned to show the rest of us the above pattern. Mark Crispin Miller writes zoomed-in detail on individual celebrities. Now someone needs to zoom out to examine their morbidity and mortality as a group.

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Leo Biddle
Writes Warrior Monk
Feb 27Liked by Abir Ballan, MPH

I feel a bit sick after reading and watching all of this. That's in no way a reflection on the article which is excellent as always

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