On Sunday afternoon, following the death of 61-year old Phil Valentine from COVID-19, Cumulus Nashville Market Manager Allison Warren issued a statement about Valentine’s passing that ended with, “Please go get vaccinated,” in capital letters. Here’s Warren’s full statement.
Cumulus Nashville Market Manager Allison Warren said, “Phil Valentine was a charismatic broadcaster who entertained millions and enriched countless lives throughout his career. A beloved friend and mentor to many, his contributions to our city and his passion for his listeners cannot be overstated. We know he will be missed. We send our heartfelt condolences and prayers to Phil’s family and wish them peace during this difficult time. If you aren’t yet vaccinated, we fervently hope that you will honor Phil’s memory by taking to heart the urgent plea he made in the last weeks of his life and ‘PLEASE GO GET VACCINATED!’”
Valentine, who worked for Supertalk 99.7 in Nashville, was critical of the vaccine before he caught the virus last month and became really sick. His family said, from his hospital bed, he told them he should have gotten the vaccine. His death was announced by the station on Saturday.
Only thing is that Cumulus Media and Cumulus Networks employ the largest team of COVID disinformation specialists in American media, including Dan Bongino, Mark Levin, Ben Shapiro, and so many more. Their talk shows say way more about their attitude about COVID-19 than any memo from some medium market GM. Cumulus kills.
If you are wishing on a “stupid variant” to cure us of the pestilence of science denying rubes like this yokel, then you don’t understand the threat they are to our health, country and democracy.
Tin Foil hat wearers like him are out Titanic; they will take us all down with them.
Guess he was wrong.
Terrible way to find out HOW wrong you were. Station should alert the listeners with this issue. Condolences to the family.
Valentine’s suicide — and make no mistake, that’s what it was — is a perfect allegory for what is happening to AM talk radio. A slow, painful, destructive, self-inflicted death.
Valentine was described as “vaccine hesitant” but that’s not true. He just didn’t want to get vaccinated, plain and simple, preferring a dangerous and useless cocktail of Vitamin D and ivermectin instead. But in the end his hubris cost him his life and it’ll cost others theirs. Whether they heed the lesson of Valentine’s pointless death remains to be seen.
Before he fell ill with the virus, Valentine had spoken out against mask mandates and written a parody of The Beatles’ song ‘Taxman’ called ‘Vaxman’ mocking the preventative. He sang it on the air.”
Let’s see, now, how quickly and how many depraved moral degenerates jump on here to figuratively dance on Valentine’s grave.
Deepest condolences to his family; may he rest in peace. He was one of the good guys.
Yes, condolences absolutely are appropriate. For sure. But absolutely no, he was not one of the “good guys.” He openly mocked masking against Covid. And he deliberately attacked and undermined the credibility of medical science FACTS, regarding the use of masks and vaccines to combat Covid. Sadly, Phil paid for that irresponsible behavior with his own life, and who knows how many other people too, who followed his misguided opinions.
Good guys don’t tell people to not get vaccinated.
Because that’s dangerous.
As should be clear.