Radio personalities are being killed by their own rhetoric — and COVID
Spreading misinformation that undermines the severity of the COVID pandemic may provide content for right-of-the-dial broadcasters whose gimmick is railing against mainstream news networks. But in increasing numbers, such chatterboxes are seeing their chickens come home to roost in a deadly fashion.
The latest to join their ranks is self-proclaimed “right-wing religious fanatic” Bob Enyart, whose COVID death was announced Monday by his former showbiz partner. Enyart, 62, had protested mask mandates and the use of vaccines on his program “Real Science Radio.” Enyart took issue with vaccine manufacturers, in his words, being tested on the cells of “aborted babies.”
Some COVID vaccines reportedly used cells initially isolated from fetal tissue during the drugs’ development, though none of the vaccines contain aborted fetal cells.
Enyart’s wife Cheryl was also reportedly warding off a “severe case” of COVID, according to the website for Denver Bible Church. According to one Denver news outlet, Enyart used to play Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust” while “gleefully” reading the names of people who died from AIDS.
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Before Enyart’s death, SIRIUS XM host Howard Stern joked that at least four radio personalities who undermined the dangers of the pandemic met with a predictable fate.
“They were on fire, these guys,” he joked. “Then their dying words are ‘I wish I had been more into the vaccine.’ ”
Both Florida and Tennessee lost a pair of popular conservative voices to COVID, but not until they’d dangerously misinformed multitudes of listeners.
Phil Valentine, of Nashville, 61, battled COVID for a month before dying unvaccinated, though not unrepentant, according to his family. While the syndicated broadcaster was being treated in an area hospital, his relatives issued a statement claiming Valentine expressed regret over not being more firmly “pro-vaccine” and urged his listeners to get inoculated.
One of his radio bits included a song called “Vaxman,” which was a parody of The Beatles’ tune “Taxman.” It ended with line. “Yeah, I’m the Vaxman, and you’re living for no one but me.”
Jimmy DeYoung, 81, is another Volunteer State radioman whose “Prophecy Today” show was canceled by COVID when he died in August. The Chattanooga-based preacher claimed governments were using the virus and the vaccines to consolidate power and that one of the inoculations keeps women from reproducing. There is no evidence any COVID vaccines perform either function. His wife Judy was also reportedly infected by the virus that has killed more than 660,000 Americans.
“God has called a faithful servant home,” his Facebook page reported.
In the Sunshine State, Daytona Beach broadcaster Marc Bernier lost his battle with COVID on Aug. 28 after months of skepticism, followed by three weeks of serious infection. The self-described “Mr. Vax” counted himself among the far right-wingers who have tried to link vaccinations to Nazi Germany protocol. His demise came eight days after Valentine’s. It also left a hole in the community. Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood told the Daytona Beach-Journal Bernie’s passing felt like “a death in the family.”
Also in August, South Florida radio personality Dick Farrell lost his distinct voice to COVID, which he’d dismissed as the “scam-demic.” He was known by fans as “The Other Rush Limbaugh.” Limbaugh, a conservative pioneer, died in February following a long battle with lung cancer.
Farrell’s position on vaccines reportedly changed when it affected him personally. A friend of his wrote on Facebook that Farrell wished he’d been vaccinated and wanted those close to him to protect themselves.
“He texted me and told me to ‘Get it!’” Amy Leigh Hair wrote.
Hair said she followed his deathbed advice and is now vaccinated. She’s saddened COVID took one of her “best friends.”
