Media exploit death for COVID after condemning 'exploitation’ for vaccine injury

Mainstream media are exploiting the death of Ineitha Lynnette Hardaway, otherwise known as “Diamond” from the popular conservative duo Diamond and Silk, trying to claim she died of COVID-19. Last week, media outlets and reporters had barked at those who suggested the COVID-19 vaccine might have caused NFL player Damar Hamlin’s sudden cardiac arrest, saying such suggestions were “exploiting Damar Hamlin’s emergency.” 

Ineitha Lynnette Hardaway, who along with her sister formed the pro-Trump duo Diamond and Silk in 2016, died Monday at 51. The cause of death is unclear, though Diamond had been ill and was hospitalized in November of last year. 

Without supporting evidence, news outlets jumped to suggest Diamond died of COVID-19 after claiming she was hospitalized due to COVID though Diamond and Silk denied the claim. 

Diamond and Silk had famously vowed to refuse any COVID-19 vaccine Bill Gates was involved with, and the media saw an opportunity. 

“MAGA / anti-vaxxer ‘Diamond,’ of Diamond and Silk, has died … of Covid. Please people, protect yourselves and get vaccinated,” USA Today’s Michael J. Stern tweeted. “Covid is still killing 2,000 Americans a week. Because people ignore it, does not mean it has gone away.” 

“Diamond —of the right-wing, Trump- loving duo Diamond and Silk— has died. In late November, she was hospitalized due to COVID-19. The duo was fired by Fox News a couple years ago for spreading misinformation about COVID-19 and vaccines. You cannot script this stuff,” wrote Al Jazeera’s Marc Lamont Hill. 

“Was Lynette Hardaway's Cause of Death COVID? What We Know, What We Don't,” said a Newsweek headline Tuesday. “Some social media users, pushing the theory that Hardaway died from COVID, have suggested it would be ironic for an anti-vaxxer or COVID denier to die from the disease,” the news publication continued. 

But a Newsweek headline last week read: “Charlie Kirk Branded 'Human Garbage' Over Damar Hamlin Remarks,” referring to Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk who wrote, “This is a tragic and all too familiar sight right now: Athletes dropping suddenly.” 

“Damar Hamlin: How anti-vaxxers exploited player's collapse,” wrote the BBC.  

“RIGHT-WINGERS ARE EXPLOITING DAMAR HAMLIN’S MEDICAL EMERGENCY TO PUSH ANTI-VAX CONSPIRACIES,” screamed Vanity Fair.  

“Anti-vaxxers using Buffalo Bills' Damar Hamlin to promote evil agenda,” seethed IndyStar, which Google has placed at the top of the search results for “Damar Hamlin vaccine”.