Conspiracy theorists hounded Grant Wahl's family when he died. Now they're back

[Nevilledog]

https://www.npr.org/2023/01/11/1148141062/grant-wahl-death-covid-conspiracy-celine-gounder-qatar-vaccination

On December 9, the phone of epidemiologist and infectious disease physician Céline Gounder began blowing up with notifications, all relaying the same message.

Her husband of 21 years, soccer journalist Grant Wahl, had collapsed halfway around the world while covering the World Cup in Qatar. An hour later, Dr. Gounder learned that Wahl had died.

As soon as news of Wahl's death spread, so did rumors about what killed him. One theory was that the COVID vaccine was responsible. It wasn't, and an autopsy later showed that Wahl died from an aortic aneurysm.

Dr. Gounder gave interviews and widely shared the results of her husband's autopsy, but the rumors and conspiracies have persisted. And in the wake of Damar Hamlin's on-field cardiac arrest, anti-vax conspiracy theorists have returned with vigor.

Dr. Gounder spoke with All Things Considered host Juana Summers to share the experience of dealing with a tragedy and misinformation, all while also having worked as a prominent health voice during the pandemic.

*snip*

[onecaliberal]

1. Sue them like Alex Jones.

[Effete Snob]

3. Who is "them"

Sue whom, specifically?

Please include in your answer an estimate of the net worth or other assets of "them" which can be collected by the law firm which ostensibly is going to dedicate many hours into the work of conducting the lawsuit.

[Mad_Machine76]

2. How

Do people have time to do this? Some of these people have got to be certifiable and probably need a serious psychiatric examination.

[regnaD kciN]

4. Let's be clear about "conspiracy theories" in that particular case...

The main one at the time of his death had nothing to do with the COVID vaccine – it was that he had been murdered by Qatari security forces due to his open support of LGBTQ causes as well as his investigation into contractor deaths at the WC. And the person who first made that charge (although he later backed away from it) was Wahl’s own brother.

[EleanorR]

5. He retracted it within 48 hours and apologized

He also wrote a tribute to his brother and explained issues he was having at the time that clouded his judgment.

https://uksport.news/grant-wahls-brother-eric-reveals-he-divorced-the-same-day-the-football-reporter-died/

[liberal_mama]

6. These people always want to blame the Covid vaccine, however I know several people personally who

weren't vaccinated and died suddenly. I'm not sure what's going on. It's something, but I'm not sure what it is.

[Genki Hikari]

8. It's stupidity

There's no need to complicate or over-think it.

We have a bunch of stupid in the country. Always have.

We must face that fact to start solving the problem.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

7. Some people here suggested Wahl was killed "in detention" by the Qatari secret police.

Conspiracy theories are the great plague of our time.