Idris Elba Denies being paid to say he has Coronavirus

 

During a recent Instagram Live video, "Cats" star Idris Elba slammed a conspiracy theory accusing people of being paid to say they tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

According to the actor, who recently tested positive for COVID-19, the conspiracy theory claims celebrities are getting paid by the government to announce that they've tested positive for the novel coronavirus. 

"This idea that someone like myself is gonna be paid to say I've got coronavirus? That's absolute bulls---," Elba said during the video. "Such stupidness. People wanna spread that as if it's news."

"That's stupid. It's the quickest way to get people sick," he added. 

"I'm not an actor right now. I'm just a human being and I just happen to be in the public eye," Elba said, adding, "So I want people to understand that this is very real. I feel like I saved people from getting it by doing that test early." 

Elba's impassioned response came after rapper Cardi B seemingly spoke up in favor of the conspiracy theory during an Instagram live of her own this past weekend.