Laila Ali, unfortunately, shared her thoughts on mask-wearing and the COVID-19 vaccine, Yahoo reports.
In a now-deleted Instagram post that was shared on Twitter, the former women’s heavyweight champion came to the defense of anti-vaxxers and anti-maskers.
"People don’t seem to understand that just b/c some folks don’t wear masks, don’t want the shot, don’t listen to the media or live in fear…it doesn’t mean they don’t ‘believe’ the virus is real or think they can’t get it,” she wrote. "They know it was created to harm humanity!”
Laila Ali out here wildin with anti-mask, anti-vaxx, anti-science and conspiracy religious rhetoric. Sheesh ???? pic.twitter.com/84LcjiJBhn
— FrugalLisa ✊???? Resist Like A Sistah (@FrugalLisa) August 18, 2021
Ali said that people who are refusing to get the vaccine are exercising their rights and relying on their faith.
“They simply choose to build up & trust their own immune system like they have been doing all their life,” she argued. “If they get it, they will deal with it!! It’s a God-given choice. I know, this kind of faith is impossible for some to comprehend. But lean not on your own understanding.”
She also suggested that everyone should do their due diligence regarding the vaccine and urged people to make their own decision.
“Before you claim they are ‘putting others in danger,’ you should do your own research to learn if that’s actually true. You can’t change anyone but yourself, So YOU DO YOU!” she wrote.
Twitter was swift to respond to Ali's views on masking and the vaccine.
So Laila Ali woke up and chose selfishness this morning, huh? These celebs “out” themselves every day. She shoulda kept that in the drafts.
— ♿️TEE FRANKLIN HAS FAILED THIS COUNTRY???? (@MizTeeFranklin) August 18, 2021
Another person expressed disappointment in Ali's views.
It's very disappointing to see prominent people Laila Ali to lead other less privileged black people astray with her antivaxxer, anti-mask nonsense. If this woman gets sick and decides to seek healthcare she'll get the best treatment. The rest of y'all will be sent home to die.
— And The Tweet Goes On (@lacadri34) August 18, 2021
Some people pretended to be shocked after reading Ali's post.
Wait, Laila Ali, a woman who grew up with every possible privilege & opportunity to do anything and still chose to get punched in the head for a living after watching it completely destroy her father‘s neurological system is a COVID denier? pic.twitter.com/52d5F7CFQz
— Mx. Amadi (@amaditalks) August 18, 2021
Laila Ali is…not smart.
— Candice Marie Benbow (@CandiceBenbow) August 18, 2021
Someone else suggested her comments came straight from YouTube Science University.
Laila Ali saying "DO YOU" during a global pandemic… Ma'am, do you not know how science works??? All these graduates of YouTube Science University. ????
— Luvvie is the #ProfessionalTroublemaker (@Luvvie) August 18, 2021
The timing of Ali's post could not have been worse as the Delta variant continues to spread and nearly 650,000 people have died in the U.S. after contracting the virus, according to The Wall Street Journal.
