Rapper M.I.A. has revealed that an offer for her to appear in the August issue of British Vogue has been withdrawn, following controversial tweets she made saying she would “choose death” over the “vaccine or the chip” - specifically referencing a potential coronavirus vaccine in later tweets.
In her tweets, she also appeared to push a conspiracy theory that “corona is in bed with science”, adding that “science is in bed with business.”
The musician shared screenshots of a message which relayed a message from the publication, which read it “just wouldn’t be right” for her to be included in the magazine and that they “need to be respectful” of NHS workers on the frontline of the pandemic.
M.I.A., whose full name is Mathangi Arulpragasam, shared a message from an unknown individual, which read, “Hey maya - sadly Edward/vogue has decided to withdraw the offer for vogue spread in August due to vaccination comments.
“From the editor: “considering our August is an issue where we’re chronicling the struggles of the NHS to cope while a vaccine is tried to be made we don’t feel we can have her involved."
The statement continued, “It just wouldn’t be right. All of our issues July-September will be supporting the frontline health care workers and we need to be respectful of them and all they are doing until a vaccine exists
In a statement to the Evening Standard, a British Vogue spokeswoman said, "British Vogue supports the NHS and everyone on the frontline who are protecting people from the virus and saving lives everyday."
She responded with a long comment saying Vogue was “really being understanding” and “not forgetting” her political activism, claiming that “many people’s lives have been affected by enforced vaccines.”
Although M.I.A claimed she was "not against vaccines", she said she was "against companies who care more for profit then [sic] humans" and said she wanted "a choice".
The musician has also commented on conspiracy theories falsely connecting 5G and coronavirus - claiming that while she didn't believe it caused coronavirus, she did believe 5G "can confuse or slow the body down in healing process [sic] as body is learning to cope...@ same time as Cov."
Professor Stephen Powis, the national medical director for the NHS, has publicly branded theories connecting 5G to coronavirus "outrageous" and the "worst kind of fake news."
Last month, M.I.A. posted her controversial views to Twitter which began with the tweet, “If I have to choose the vaccine or chip I'm gonna choose death - YALA.”
YALA is a reference to her song 'You Always Live Again'. The comments prompted a strong backlash online.
Medical professionals around the world are working to develop a vaccine for coronavirus, which has killed 178,096 people worldwide.
There are currently 2,578,930 confirmed cases globally, with countries including the US, Italy, Spain, France and the UK hit especially hard.
Another of her tweets read, “You can make it without stressing the medical systems. Just breathe. You are going to be ok. You can make it through without jumping in the frying pan. You are fine. All the vaccines you’ve already had is enough to see you through."
A few weeks after her initial tweets, she added, "I'm not against vaccines. I'm against companies who care more for profit then humans. I care for [a] better track record that proves this. I care that African countries are not always the testing ground. I don't want it coming from banks / tech /hedge fund sector and I want a choice."
She also claimed that while she didn't believe coronavirus and 5G are related (a debunked conspiracy theory), she said, "I don't think it's related except for timing. The timing is orchestrated by them. Not Us. I don't think 5G gives you COVID19. I think it can confuse or slow the body down in healing process as body is learning to cope with new signals wavelength s frequency etc @ same time as Cov."
In response to Vogue’s cancellation of her spread, she wrote, “Dear vogue Thank you for really being understanding. Thank you for not forgetting that I was helping Jeremy Corbyn fight for the NHS, when everyone voted Boris.”
“Thank you for not forgetting that I stood with Tamils when the Sri lankan government was bombing UN civilian hospitals , taking financial /career hit which ment [sic] I couldn't buy nice dresses for a long time,” she continued. “Thank you for not forgetting that I live to speak for immigrants who hold up the healthcare systems of the west.”
She continued that “choice is a liberty I choose to exercise and fight for”, adding that she had done research into “enforced vaccines.” She has previously talked about how her son’s school “made me vaccinate my child before the school admission”, which she said was the “hardest thing” as she did not “have choice over this as a mother.”
“As for medical staff they have been overworked / underpaid in a system that upheld overpaid bankers and celebrities for years. Yes health deserves better breaks. They need help with child care / rent / better hours and protection and acknowledgment, and I'm very happy that this is finally happening,” she said.
“In America they need free health care! Health care isn't and shouldn't be treated like a business. With the 4trillion bailout, they could have achieved printing out whatever they need to give people better healthcare which even Cuba has achieved even with decades of sanctions.
“Thank you for considering me for the feature however I'm going to busy researching ..... won't be able to make it,” she ended her response.
