Hillsong member, 34, who tweeted 'got 99 problems but a vax ain't one' dies after month-long battle with COVID-19 and final 'pray for me' message
- Stephen Harmon, 34, died on Wednesday at the Corona Regional Medical Center outside Los Angeles where he was being treated for COVID and pneumonia
- Harmon was a Hillsong College graduate and member of the church
- He had made several jokes on social media in recent weeks about not having the COVID-19 vaccine
- He also documented his illness and treatment publicly on Instagram and Twitter after being hospitalized on June 30
- In the days prior to his death, Harmon posted about how he was 'on max oxygen', 'struggling to function' and questioning whether he should go on a ventilator
- His tragic final tweet, which was posted on Wednesday, revealed that he had decided to be intubated but that he wasn't sure when he would wake
A member of the Hillsong megachurch who tweeted 'got 99 problems but a vax ain't one' has died in California after a month-long battle with COVID-19.
Stephen Harmon, 34, died on Wednesday at the Corona Regional Medical Center outside Los Angeles where he was being treated for COVID and pneumonia.
Harmon, who was a Hillsong College graduate, had made several jokes on social media in recent weeks about not having the COVID-19 vaccine, including when he was in the hospital being treated for the virus.
He also documented his illness and treatment publicly on Instagram and Twitter ever since being hospitalized last month.
Hillsong founder Brian Houston confirmed news of his death in a tweet on Thursday.
Stephen Harmon, 34, died on Wednesday at the Corona Regional Medical Center outside Los Angeles where he was being treated for COVID and pneumonia
Hillsong founder Brian Houston confirmed news of his death in a tweet on Thursday. Ben is Houston's son and a pastor in the church
'Ben has just passed on to us the devastating news that our beloved friend, Stephen Harmon has passed away from Covid. Heartbreaking,' Houston said.
Ben is Houston's son and a pastor in the church.
The church doesn't appear to have taken a stance one way or the other on the vaccine: One video posting on the church's YouTube channel shows parishioners talking about the pros and cons of the vaccine. The church in Australia has been vocally against locking down religious activities.
Prior to his death, Harmon had joked about the COVID-19 to his 7,000 social media followers.
'If you're having email problems, I feel bad for you, son. I got 99 problems but a vax ain't one,' he posted on June 3.
On July 8, Harmon wrote: 'Biden's door to door vaccine 'surveyors' really should be called JaCovid Witnesses. #keepmovingdork.'
He also posted memes about how people trusted Dr Anthony Fauci, the US's top infectious disease doctor, over the Bible.
'When you can't trust the Bible cause it was written by man, but you trust the CDC/Fauci guidelines cause they were written by man. Makes total sense,' he posted on May 25.
Harmon had previously claimed on social media that he wasn't an anti-vaxxer but rather 'pro information'.
It is not clear when Harmon was diagnosed with COVID-19.
He revealed on June 30 that he had been hospitalized with the virus and pneumonia and posted several photos of himself on a breathing machine.
In the days prior to his death, Harmon had been posting about how he was 'on max oxygen', 'struggling to function' and questioning whether he should go on a ventilator.
'Please pray y'all, they really want to intubate me and put me on a ventilator. even the slightest movements and my heart rate skyrockets and oxygen dependency increases. and please, I'm not asking for anyone's opinion on intubation, I'll make my own choice, I'm asking for prayer,' he said.
He followed up with: 'If you don't have faith that God can heal me over your stupid ventilator then keep the Hell out of my ICU room, there's no room in here for fear or lack of faith!' #ThingsIAmAboutToScream.'
His tragic final tweet, which was posted on Wednesday, revealed that he had decided to be intubated.
'I'm choosing to going under intubation, I've fought this thing as hard as I can but unfortunately it's reached a point of critical choice & as much as I hate having to do this I'd rather it be willingness than forced emergency procedure. Don't know when I'll wake up, please pray.'
He revealed on June 30 that he had been hospitalized with the virus and pneumonia and posted several photos of himself on a breathing machine
In the days prior to his death, Harmon had been posting about how he was 'on max oxygen', 'struggling to function' and questioning whether he should go on a ventilator
His tragic final tweet, which was posted on Wednesday, revealed that he had decided to be intubated
Hospitalized right-wing anti-vaxxer radio host 'fighting for his life' with COVID-19 as his family says he regrets not being 'vehemently pro-vaccine'
A right-wing radio host in Tennessee, who had questioned the need for Covid-19 vaccines while promoting 'alternatives,' is 'fighting for his life' against the virus in a critical care unit.
Phil Valentine, who hosts a show on SuperTalk 99.7 WTN in Nashville, is battling 'Covid pneumonia and the attendant side effects,' his brother, Mark, said in a statement Thursday.
Phil Valentine, 61, is 'fighting for his life' in a critical care unit after contracting Covid
'Please continue to pray for his recovery and PLEASE GO GET VACCINATED!' Mark Valentine implored.
Phil Valentine, 61, appeared to be in high spirits July 12 when he told his followers in a Facebook post that he had the coronavirus.
'Unfortunately for the haters out there, it looks like I'm going to make it,' he joked.
He went back on air two days later according to his Facebook profile, striking a more grateful tone but still promoting 'alternatives.'
'Thanks for all the prayers and well-wishes,' he said. 'The good news is there are some very effective alternatives to the vaccine.
'If you're high risk of dying from COVID I still strongly suggest you consider the vaccine, but this it totally your choice,' he said in a post. 'Just make sure you're prepared if you decide against the vaccine.'
Things took a turn for the worse since then.
The radio host is breathing with assistance in a critical care unit, but he is not on a ventilator, according to a family statement published by Newsweek.
Valentine's social media accounts are littered with posts questioning the safety and necessity of the vaccines.
'Ah, but I'm sure their vaccine is perfectly safe. Don't worry about it,' he tweeted on July 16, four days after announcing he had contracted the virus, above a link to an article about vaccine maker Johnson & Johnson pulling their sunscreens from shelves over cancer concerns.
In a July 12 Facebook post, Valentine announced he had contracted the coronavirus
Two days later, he went back to hosting his radio show and promoted 'very effective alternatives to the vaccine' on Facebook
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strongly urges people to get vaccinated with one of the vaccines produced by Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson.
'They went through all the required stages of clinical trials,' the federal agency says on its website. 'Extensive testing and monitoring have shown that these vaccines are safe and effective'
The U.S. continues to lead the world with nearly 34.3 million confirmed COVID-19 infections and over 610,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
Johnson also questioned the efficacy of masks, calling face-covering mandates an 'overreach.'
'Phil would like for his listeners to know that while he has never been an "anti-vaxxer" he regrets not being more vehemently "Pro-Vaccine,"' his brother Mark said.
Some have reacted with schadenfreude at the news of Valentine's illness.
'I got their vaccine. And I am NOT currently in the hospital getting assistance with breathing,' replied one person under Valentine's tweet slamming Johnson & Johnson.
Hillsong member who tweeted about not having vaccine dies of COVID - Daily Mail
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