Grey's Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo is more than willing to speak out when there's something
on her mind.
Her penchant for honesty might explain why she delivered a harsh message to those protesting
stay-at-home orders during the coronavirus pandemic.
"The economic strain is driving some Americans to protest stay at home orders, but there
are questions of how the rallies, consisting largely of the president's supporters, were
organized."
Although the true toll of the global crisis is uncertain at this time, a staggering amount
of people have been exposed to the virus, and sadly, even died from the illness or related
complications.
That's why individuals are being asked to isolate themselves until the situation is
under control, as staying at home will help prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Although many experts believe social distancing is a top defense against the potentially deadly
virus, some people argue the stay-at-home orders are supposedly unconstitutional and
have taken to the streets to express their discontent.
Sure, these mini-movements may be astroturfed, or, presented as grassroots movements that
are actually masking, in this case, right-wing sponsorship, as noted by the Guardian, but
that doesn't make them any less dangerous.
Whether or not Pompeo was privy to the political origin of these protests, she didn't hold
back.
She shared her candid thoughts via Twitter in response to a Los Angeles Times article
that detailed the actions of protesters in California.
She tweeted:
"They didn't get the memo that this isn't about them.
So if any of them get sick they should be fine with just going home and staying home
caring for themselves...you don't have the right to ask for help from people you didn't
care about when you were waving your flag."
The actor noted that people are being asked to stay at home "for very good reasons," one
of them being to prevent the disease from spreading to hospital staff.
"Every day, you're thinking: 'Am I going to get really sick?
Am I going to be able to recover?
Am I going to be one of those young people that, for whatever reason, dies from this?'"
She explained how protecting these groups helps hospitals from being overburdened in
tough times.
And while Pompeo certainly made her point clear, she wasn't done by a long shot.
Despite Grey's Anatomy not always being medically accurate, Pompeo encourages people to listen
to experts and not famous television personalities when it comes to serious advice.
Her take on certain celebrity "doctors" and their advice?
"The old white guy tv docs who say stupid selfish s--- should yes...walk that s--- [right]
back to your lazy boys and sit your stupid asses down in your living rooms on your golf
courses where you live."
She added that she's tired of, quote, "out of touch old fools."
Wow, we may love this feisty look on the actress, but what we wouldn't give for one of Meredith
Grey's patented pep talks right now…
"You have an enormous will, an enormous heart, an enormous capacity for survival.
You've taken all this darkness and used it to help other people who are walking through
the same."
Anyway, Pompeo was likely referring to figures like Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz in her tweet.
The latter faced backlash during an April 2020 interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity.
He advocated reopening schools across the country, arguing that this measure, quote,
"may only cost us 2 to 3 percent in terms of total mortality," per The New York Times.
He soon backpedaled and apologized.
"I've realized my comments on risks around opening schools have confused and upset people,
which was never my intention.
I misspoke."
As for Dr. Phil, who isn't a medical doctor, bee-tee-dubs, he also stirred up strong reactions
when he told Fox News:
"45,000 people a year die from automobile accidents, 480,000 from cigarettes, but we
don't shut the country down for that.
But yet we're doing it for this?"
He also apologized, but the efforts of both men didn't appease Pompeo…or a pretty large
chunk of Twitter, for that matter.
Pompeo wasn't the only one who wanted to share thoughts about the coronavirus stay-at-home
protesters and TV doctors.
After the star took to Twitter to express her opinions about the sensitive circumstances,
her followers were quick to respond.
In regards to those who opposed the order to isolate, one user tweeted, quote: "I don't
know how there are people who make this kind of protest.
It's too irrational."
Another fan thanked the actress and shared their personal connection with medical professionals,
writing, quote: "My daughter is a doctor at Jackson in Miami and my son is a doctor at
Mount Sinai in NY.
I worry about them every moment.
They didn't sign up for this pandemic either, but they are playing their part and staying
home is the part non-essential workers must play."
As for the "old white guy tv docs," as Pompeo referred to them, they also came under fire.
One user tweeted: "Omg, Dr. Oz and Dr. Phil have worked my last damn nerve now with the
protestors screaming for independence like we didn't have [it] already."
Far be it from us to weigh in on heavy issues, but we can't help but agree, after all, putting
other people's lives at risk isn't a political issue.
It's a human one.
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