June 18, 2020
Lord Alan Sugar has sparked a Social Media backlash after voicing his belief we should begin lifting lockdown measures in the UK.
Alan Sugar Sparks Backlash After Latest Coronavirus Comments
Speaking on Thursday’s edition of Jeremy Vine, Lord Sugar revealed he’d been at his home in Florida for the last six months, and had therefore spent the entire Coronavirus pandemic so far in the US.
The 73-year-old began by insisting that he is “not a doctor” and therefore doesn’t “want to be giving medical advice”, before telling Jeremy: “The only thing I can say is that I’ve been here in Florida for six months, and so I’ve lived through the crisis, the shortage of ventilators, the no masks available, the no bodywear available, the hospital beds being full up, blah blah blah, blah blah blah, blah blah blah.
“And I’ve now seen the transition of restaurants opening, Tennis courts – for example – opening, golf clubs opening, restaurants opening at 50% capacity, shops have been open all of the time, quite honestly, and this has been going on now for six weeks.” It’s the second part of his speech that has especially riled people, though, as the Apprentice star continued: “I just, logically, say ‘well hold on, six weeks, we’ve come out of this so-called lockdown, who’s dead? I’m not. I’m still alive’. My wife, thank god, is still alive. So’s everybody else I know. No one else has caught anything.
“So I suppose it’s a bit of a clue there that says maybe we’ve reached a peak, and maybe it’s time for us to follow the example of America, or indeed France, that have opened up, or indeed Spain.”
He added that he believes “Prime Minister Johnson… is being a little too cautious, if you ask me”. After a clip of the interview was posted on social media, many began taking issues with Lord Sugar’s comments, branding him “ignorant” and pointing out that just because the virus hadn’t affected him directly, that doesn’t mean others haven’t lost loved ones in the pandemic... "We did ask some of the people who have died from COVID-19 to appear on the programme but none were available". https://t.co/1WjrthBlqF— Philip Collins (@PCollinsTimes) June 18, 2020Oh well, Alan Sugar, as long as you and your mates are fine, I guess that's all that matters. Don't worry about the hundreds of thousands who actually have died or lost loved ones, you pompous, out of touch asshat. https://t.co/RBPCAn0MYt— Jay Thomas (@RemainsOfTheJay) June 18, 2020My fiancé and his colleague became sick around the same time. My fiancé thankfully survived, his colleague sadly passed. Alan Sugar may have an abundance of wealth but he still can’t see beyond his own narrow view. Your experience is not universal. https://t.co/6SXzm2eeV5— Mel (@MelRTW) June 18, 2020"It hasn't killed me so it's probably fine," Alan Sugar tells the world from his $13 million six-bedroom Florida fortress. https://t.co/s9qdZES3KP— Jamie (@okayjamie) June 18, 2020Who's dead?? How dare you @Lord_Sugar I know people that have died from this virus. Over 41,000 people have died... That's who's died!!! https://t.co/pf18xaRhCs— James Dobson (@GillsJames1893) June 18, 2020.@Lord_Sugar "Who's dead?" I personally know two people who have died, a couple more who had to be ventilated for WEEKS and even more people who caught the virus. Just because something isn't happening to you doesn't mean it's not happening, you selfish, fucking moron! https://t.co/tIWp203Qkf— Ayesha (@ayesha_bgm) June 18, 2020So insulting to the thousands who have been affected personally by this horrific virus. Lives have been torn apart. Why do we allow these people to spout such ignorant nonsense? All for money. When will we learn? https://t.co/MltLIpHz8C— Mark Dobson (@kellysheroesmd) June 18, 2020Reckless. Disrespectful. Ignorant. Imbecile.Over 40,000 people have died @Lord_Sugar, especially the poor and deprived, who have suffered the worst.Your ignorance and dismissive behaviour knows no bounds! https://t.co/o6ED4q35gj— Gerry Campbell (@gerrycampbell69) June 18, 2020Over 40,000 people, Alan. But not you or your mates, so, ah sure that's grand. What an absolute joke. https://t.co/FzB2i0fubz— Marc Caldwell (@permanentmarcer) June 18, 2020Others highlighted the fact that even in Florida, where Lord Sugar is currently living, there’s been a recent surge in coronavirus cases…Florida yesterday recorded a new peak on COVID cases but big Alan hasn't got it so it's all fine. https://t.co/3fXfSSTfST— Bailey Harper (@bay405) June 18, 2020Says he been in Florida for the past 6 months so I'm guessing he hasn't watched much local news before rambling about him and his rich mates not being dead https://t.co/zWyu5B1Wfkpic.twitter.com/0B0DF8RjWK— David (@Dave_Lome) June 18, 2020Florida yesterday recorded a new peak on COVID cases but big Alan hasn't got it so it's all fine. https://t.co/3fXfSSTfST— Bailey Harper (@bay405) June 18, 2020'I'm not a doctor,' says Lord Sugar from Florida, which is experiencing a massive spike in hospitalisations from coronavirus https://t.co/41VDURImDo— Toby Earle (@TobyonTV) June 18, 2020"A month into its reopening, Florida this week reported 8,553 new cases - the most of any seven-day period" (https://t.co/RRAhmqDMV9) https://t.co/wvVvpmkUdI— Jamie Sport (@JamieSport) June 18, 2020While he froths on about I don't know anyone who died blah blah blah. 6 weeks after lockdown restrictions were relaxed.. Florida cases are rising. Arrogant, ill informed and on #jeremyvine well done. https://t.co/aNEpBPEef2https://t.co/pOnSagEA11— paul sandham (@papalamour) June 18, 2020Many also questioned what made him qualified to speak on the subject on the first place…"Look, I'm not a doctor and I don't want to be giving medical advice"... Should've stopped there @Lord_Sugar... https://t.co/i15BjLmhKN— Invi (@invi_tv) June 18, 2020When it comes to common sense on public health issues, you know who I want to hear from? The guy who genuinely believed Taylor Swift had a swastika tattooed on her face pic.twitter.com/j3pgO19OrJ— Eddie Robson (@EddieRobson) June 18, 2020'I'm not a doctor but blah blah blah...' smh. Time to boycott @theapprenticeukhttps://t.co/nqb3rjGYNX— Tayyiba Nasir (@tayyibanasir) June 18, 2020I think the only key bit of information we really need to take from this is "Look I'm not a doctor, and I don't want to be giving medical advice". https://t.co/mm0laGMSi6— Richard Heathcote (@voiceoverartist) June 18, 2020One thing this period in history has allowed for is a regularly updated measuring device for; 'Is My Opinion Terrible?'. Just check Alan Sugar's feed. If your opinion is the same as his; it is terrible. https://t.co/P2SmFxo5p1— Jack Pridmore (@jackjpridmore) June 18, 2020Why would you even give airtime to such out of touch, uneducated, ignorant people to speak on a virus in the middle of a pandemic? https://t.co/NT2eSaGWc8— . (@kalimo97) June 18, 2020This isn’t the first time Lord Sugar has been criticised for voicing his opinions during lockdown.
Last month, he found himself at the centre of controversy once again, when he tweeted a link to a conspiracy theory about the origins of coronavirus, which suggested that the virus had been man-made in a laboratory.
This was swiftly debunked by Full Fact, and while Lord Sugar conceded the theory he shared was “fake news”, he continued to defend his decision to not only tweet it out, but keep the post active for some time.
Jeremy Vine airs every weekday from 9.15am on Channel 5.READ MORE: Lord Sugar Reignites Feud With 'Hypocrite' Piers Morgan Over Coronavirus Test Lord Sugar Faces Backlash After Tweeting Out Conspiracy Theory About Coronavirus' Origins The Apprentice At 15: Where Are Its Most Memorable Contestants Now?
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