<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/environmental-protection-agency-epa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EPA</a> Administrator Michael Regan postponed a <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener">climate change</a> trip to <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/africa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Africa</a> with celebrity couple <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/idris-elba" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Idris</a> and Sabrina Elba amid fallout from the <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/ohio-train-disaster" target="_blank" rel="noopener">train derailment</a> in East Palestine, Ohio.
Local and state authorities previously evacuated all residents within one mile of the February 3 derailment and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/evacuation-ordered-ohio-governor-warns-major-explosion-could-send-shrapnel-a-mile-from-derailed-train" target="_blank" rel="noopener">started</a> a controlled burn of industrial chemicals on the vehicle to decrease the risk of an explosion, which could have sent shrapnel throughout the small town. Vinyl chloride, a known human carcinogen used to manufacture PVC, was emitted from five train cars in the form of massive plumes of dark smoke visible throughout eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania.
Regan was previously scheduled to visit sub-Saharan Africa alongside the Elbas, according to a <a href="https://thegrio.com/2023/02/16/exclusive-idris-sabrina-elba-epa-regan-africa-climate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from The Grio. An editor’s note affixed to the top of the article now clarifies that Regan postponed the trip “due to his department’s emergency response to the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, which has caused environmental concerns for its residents.”
Idris Elba, whose mother is from Ghana and whose father is from Sierra Leone, was slated to visit the two countries alongside his wife and the senior Biden administration official to note the purported impact of climate change on the region. Sabrina Elba told the outlet that she and her husband connected with Regan, the first black leader of the EPA, about climate and Africa during a summit in Washington at the end of last year and noted “the good work that he’s doing and the plan he’s developed.”
Regan traveled to East Palestine last week as criticism mounted against the White House for offering relatively little attention to the crisis. The EPA told Norfolk Southern, the company at the center of the derailment, on Tuesday that the firm must <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/epa-orders-norfolk-southern-to-handle-all-ohio-train-derailment-cleanup-pay-triple-if-they-cut-corners" target="_blank" rel="noopener">clean</a> contaminated soil and water, reimburse the EPA for cleaning services that will be offered to residents and businesses, and attend public meetings to update residents on the cleanup process. The agency also threatened to “immediately step in, conduct the necessary work, and then seek to compel Norfolk Southern to pay triple the cost” if the company fails to adequately complete enumerated cleanup actions.
Regan had told The Grio that his agency would issue several climate announcements during the diplomatic mission. “They’re going to be serious investments. And it’s all based on the president’s leadership,” he told the outlet. “We know that we can’t solve our national security problems, our climate problems, our economic challenges if we don’t have this globalized solution that the Elbas and the EPA are working on.”
The mandate that Norfolk Southern bear responsibility for the cleanup represents the most aggressive response to the chemical fallout from the Biden administration.
“The Norfolk Southern train derailment has upended the lives of East Palestine families, and EPA’s order will ensure the company is held accountable for jeopardizing the health and safety of this community,” Regan said in a statement. “Let me be clear: Norfolk Southern will pay for cleaning up the mess they created and for the trauma they’ve inflicted on this community.”

Collage Maker-21-Feb-2023-02.53-PM

EPA Administrator Quietly Postpones Africa Climate Change Trip With Idris And Sabrina Elba As Ohio Train Disaster Unfolds

EPA Administrator Postpones Africa Trip With Idris And Sabrina Elba As Ohio Train Disaster Unfolds

Africa

Climate Change

Disasters

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Idris Elba

Ohio Train Disaster

U.S.

Actor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/idris-elba" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Idris Elba</a> said that he’s no longer interested in being defined by the color of his skin during an interview published Wednesday.
The 50-year-old British star discussed his feelings on the subject during an <a href="https://www.esquire.com/uk/culture/a42621203/idris-elba-interview-luther/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview</a> with Esquire U.K. 
&#8220;If we spent half the time not talking about the differences but the similarities between us, the entire planet would have a shift in the way we deal with each other,&#8221; the &#8220;Beast&#8221; <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/celebrities">actor</a> told the publication. &#8220;As humans, we are obsessed with race. And that obsession can really hinder people’s aspirations, hinder people’s growth.&#8221;
While Elba believes that racism is still a problem, he went on to say that obsessing over skin color was limiting for him.
&#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/racism" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Racism</a> is very real,&#8221; the actor continued. &#8220;But, from my perspective, it’s only as powerful as you allow it to be. I stopped describing myself as a black actor when I realized it put me in a box. We’ve got to grow. We’ve got to. Our skin is no more than that. It&#8217;s just skin. Rant over.&#8221;
When asked if he considered himself a &#8220;member of the black community,&#8221; Elba replied that his British citizenry is recognized more than his race when in the U.S.
&#8220;You say a prominent one,&#8221; Elba replied. &#8220;But when I go to America, I’m a prominent member of the British community. ‘Oh, U.K.’s in the house!’&#8221;
He expanded on his thoughts about the significance of race a bit more, saying, &#8220;I might be the first to look like me to do a certain thing. And that’s good to leave as part of my legacy. So that other people, black kids, but also white kids growing up in the circumstances I grew up in, are able to see there was a kid who came from Canning Town who ended up doing what I do. It can be done.&#8221;
Ultimately, Elba concluded that race was not a motivating factor for him to succeed in Hollywood.
“I did it because I thought that’s a great profession, and I could do a good job at it,&#8221; he said of acting. &#8220;As you get up the ladder, you get asked what it’s like to be the first black to do this or that. Well, it’s the same as it would be if I were white. It’s the first time for me. I don’t want to be the first black. I’m the first Idris.&#8221;

Premiere Of Universal Pictures’ “Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw” – Red Carpet

Idris Elba On Why He No Longer Describes Himself As A ‘Black Actor’: ‘It’s Just Skin’

Idris Elba On Why He No Longer Describes Himself As A Black Actor: 'It's Just Skin'

Celebrities

Entertainment

Racism

Speaking at a digital MIPTV conference, BBC&#8217;s Chief Diversity Officer Miranda Wayland suggested that the title character in “Luther,” played by Idris Elba, didn’t “feel authentic” enough as a black character, saying that he didn’t eat “Caribbean food” and had no “black friends.”
“When [Luther] first came out everybody loved the fact that Idris Elba was in there — a really strong, black character lead,” Wayland said, as <a class="x5l" href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/idris-elba-luther-black-drama-crime-bbc-diversity-chief-8dgzjkx7v" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported</a> by The Times. “We all fell in love with him. Who didn’t, right? But after you got into about the second series you got kind of like, OK, he doesn’t have any black friends, he doesn’t eat any Caribbean food, this doesn’t feel authentic.”
Wayland said that diversity goes beyond just having a black lead character, but rather &#8220;making sure everything around them, their environment, their culture, the set, is absolutely reflective.&#8221;
However, the show&#8217;s creator, Neil Cross, said Idris Elba initially sought after the role of Luther specifically because it was not so racially focused.
“I have no knowledge or expertise or right to try to tackle in some way the experience of being a black man in modern Britain,” Cross said. “It would have been an act of tremendous arrogance for me to try to write a black character. We would have ended up with a slightly embarrassed, ignorant, middle-class, white writer’s idea of a black character.”
In December of last year, BBC Studios Productions announced that 20% of all projects’ on-screen and production talent must be of a designated minority, billing it as “four significant steps to improve diversity and inclusion across its content and teams.” The first initiative required an “Inclusion Rider,” a term coined by Dr. Stacy Smith in a <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hey-hollywood-time-adopt-nfls-754659" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-beacon="{&quot;p&quot;:{&quot;lnid&quot;:&quot;2014 op-ed in The Hollywood Reporter&quot;,&quot;mpid&quot;:5,&quot;plid&quot;:&quot;https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hey-hollywood-time-adopt-nfls-754659&quot;}}" data-beacon-parsed="true" data-rapid-parsed="slk" data-ylk="subsec:paragraph;cpos:3">2014 op-ed in The Hollywood Reporter</a>.
“An ‘Inclusion Rider’ stating BBC Studios Production’s commitment to a minimum target of 20% of its on-screen talent and production teams on all new BBC and third-party UK commissions coming from a Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic (BAME) background, having a lived experience of a disability, or being from a low-income background,” said the BBC. “There will also be an additional commitment to a target of at least one senior role on scripted and unscripted production teams being appointed from one of these backgrounds.”
The “Inclusion Rider” will be effective immediately and “will apply to every new commission from the business’s scripted and unscripted teams across Drama, Comedy, Factual, including the Natural History Unit, Factual Entertainment and Entertainment.”
For the second initiative, the BBC said it would be “funding a new year-long Trainee Assistant Producer Programme (TAPP) to develop the next generation of content-makers.”
“A mentoring programme with ScreenSkills aimed at under-represented talent at Assistant Producer or Script Editor level or above,” would be the third initiative.
“Creation of a short film for schools covering all the behind the camera roles in drama, entertainment and factual to inspire them to pursue a career in the TV industry,” would be the fourth initiative.
Ralph Lee, BBC Studios’ Director of Content, said the new initiatives will level the playing field for people looking to thrive in the entertainment industry.
“As the UK’s biggest producer of content, my ambition has always been that BBC Studios Production leads the way in levelling the playing field for anyone wanting to join and thrive in our industry,” he said. “These initiatives are by no means a magic bullet and we’re also doing a lot of work on culture and education to make our teams more inclusive. The talent in front of and behind the camera will give perspectives that will shape our content, making it more authentic and universal in its depiction of our audiences – and ultimately its appeal with them.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/bbc-studios-imposes-20-diversity-quotas-on-all-future-productions">BBC Studios Announces 20% Diversity Quotas On All Future Productions</a>

Luther Photocall – London

BBC Diversity Officer: Idris Elba’s ‘Luther’ Character ‘Doesn’t Feel Authentic’; No ‘Black Friends,’ Doesn’t Eat ‘Caribbean Food’

Diversity

Actor Idris Elba has come out against canceling old movies and TV shows with content now deemed offensive or racist.
Speaking with <a href="https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2020-07-14/idris-elba-racist-tv-shows/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Radio Times</a>, Elba said that the controversial episodes of “30 Rock,” “The Golden Girls,” “The Office,” “Scrubs,” and others should not be erased and should instead contain warning labels at the front.
“I’m very much a believer in freedom of speech,” Elba said. “But the thing about freedom of speech is that it’s not suitable for everybody. That’s why we have a rating system. We tell you that this particular content is rated U, PG, 15, 18. To mock the truth, you have to know the truth. But to censor racist themes within a show, to pull it — wait a second, I think viewers should know that people made shows like this.”
“Out of respect for the time and the movement, commissioners and archive-holders pulling things they think are exceptionally tone-deaf at this time — fair enough and good for you,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;But I think, moving forward, people should know that freedom of speech is accepted, but the audience should know what they’re getting into. I don’t believe in censorship. I believe that we should be allowed to say what we want to say. Because, after all, we’re story-makers.”
Last month, during the protests over the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer, HBO Max <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gone-with-the-wind-returning-to-hbo-max-will-feature-a-disclaimer">temporarily pulled</a> &#8220;Gone with the Wind&#8221; and added an introduction from Turner Classic Movies host Jacqueline Stewart to put the movie&#8217;s depiction of slavery and racism in its proper context. After deciding to pull the film and issue the introduction from Stewart, WarnerMedia chief Bob Greenblatt said the move was “<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/warnermedia-chief-bob-greenblatt-defends-hbo-max-decision-pull-gone-with-the-wind" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a no-brainer.</a>”
“We failed to put the disclaimer in there, which basically sets up the issues that this movie really brings up,” said Greenblatt. “We took it off and we’re going to bring it back with the proper context. It’s what we should have done. I don’t regret taking it down for a second. I only wish we had put it up in the first place with the disclaimer. And, you know, we just didn’t do that.”
Speaking on “The View,” Whoopi Goldberg, the second black American actress to win an Oscar, <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/gone-with-the-wind-return-hbo-max-introduction-black-scholar-jacqueline-stewart">said she opposes canceling</a> “Gone with the Wind” and the show “Cops.”
“Personally I think if you put things in a historical context — because if you start pulling every film … you’re going to have to pull all of the blaxploitation movies because they’re not depicting us the right way,” said Goldberg.
“That’s a very long list of films,” she continued. “If you put, before you show the film: Listen, this was shot when things were different, and we don’t, you know, we don’t do this anymore, that’s what — you have to put something in context, and I think with ‘Cops,’ listen, if you balance the people you arrest — if you arrested everybody, if you make it widespread — white people, yellow people, brown people. If everybody’s getting arrested, you can have ‘Cops.’ It just feels like it’s a whole bunch of black people all the time. I’m just saying.”

Tyler Perry Honored With Star On Hollywood Walk Of Fame

Idris Elba Opposes Canceling Old Movies, TV Shows: ‘I Don’t Believe In Censorship’

Cancel Culture

Censorship

Hollywood

On Sunday, famed English actor Idris Elba told Oprah Winfrey on an episode of &#8220;Oprah Talks Covid-19&#8221; that earth has unleashed the China-originated novel coronavirus on humanity because we treat the environment poorly.
Elba and his wife Sabrina Dhowre have both tested positive for the virus.
&#8220;One of the upsides of this whole drama is that we are forced to think together as a race,&#8221; the actor told Winfrey, as reported by <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/coronavirus-idris-elba-oprah-interview-watch-test-sabrina-dhowre-positive-a9416606.html">The Independent</a>. &#8220;We really are, as a human race.&#8221;
&#8220;Our world has been taking a kicking,&#8221; the 47-year-old continued. &#8220;We have damaged our world, and it’s no surprise that our world is reacting to the human race. It&#8217;s no surprise that a virus has been created that is going to slow us down, and ultimately make us think differently about our world and ourselves.&#8221;
&#8220;For me, that’s a stand-out thing that’s very obvious. That, this is almost like the world’s cry out. Like: ‘Hey, hey, hey – you are kicking me and what you’re doing is not good, so I’ll get rid of you,'&#8221; Elba added. &#8220;As any organism would do, (the world) is trying to get rid of an infection, and maybe this is it for the world.&#8221;
Winfrey was in agreement that the virus is meant to teach humanity something.
&#8220;I think we all lose as human beings if we just think of this as a physical virus,&#8221; she told the actor. &#8220;I think it is exactly as you said, that it is here to teach us, show us something about ourselves, as individuals and also as a world of people. And this is the moment for our humanity to either rise or not.&#8221;
The &#8220;Luther&#8221; actor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-actor-idris-elba-reveals-he-has-coronavirus-no-panic">announced</a> Monday that he had tested positive for COVID-91; days later it was announced that his wife, who stayed by his side in quarantine, also had the virus.
&#8220;This morning I tested positive for Covid 19,&#8221; Elba said via social media on Monday. &#8220;I feel ok, I have no symptoms so far but have been isolated since I found out about my possible exposure to the virus.&#8221;
&#8220;I didn’t have any symptoms,&#8221; he explained. &#8220;I got tested because I realized that I was exposed to someone who had also tested positive. I found out last Friday that they were tested positive. I quarantined myself and got a test immediately and got the results back today.&#8221;
&#8220;Look, this is serious. Now’s the time to really think about social distancing, washing your hands. Beyond that there are people out there who aren’t showing symptoms, and that can easily spread it,&#8221; continued the acclaimed actor. &#8220;So now’s a time to be real vigilant about washing your hands and keeping your distance, okay.&#8221;
&#8220;Transparency’s probably the best thing for this right now,&#8221; he said. &#8220;If you’re feeling ill or you feel like you should be tested or you’ve been exposed, then do something about it, all right — it’s really important.&#8221;
&#8220;Look, we live in a divided world right now, we can feel it — it’s been bullsh**,&#8221; Elba emphasized. &#8220;But now’s the time for solidarity, now’s the time to be thinking about each other. There are so many people whose lives have been affected — from those who have lost people they have loved, to those who don’t even have it and have lost their livelihoods. This is real.&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/naked-madonna-posts-coronavirus-bathtub-message-covid-19-has-wonderful-side">Naked Madonna Posts Coronavirus Bathtub Message: COVID-19 Has ‘Wonderful’ Side</a>

Sabrina Dhowr and Idris Elba

Idris Elba: ‘Very Obvious’ Earth Unleashed Coronavirus On Us For Beating Up The Planet

COVID

Environmentalism

Oprah Winfrey

Conservative routinely drub Hollywood, Inc. and for some very good reasons.
Can you <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/leonardo-dicaprio-climate-battle-lavish-lifestyle/">say Climate Change hypocrisy</a>?
Still, that doesn’t mean the industry lacks a compassionate side, something we see in the very worst of times.
Think of previous hurricanes and other natural disasters. Stars have written some very big checks to ease the suffering caused by Mother Nature. After 9/11, stars rallied on stages, screens, and via a high-profile telethon to support grieving families and First Responders alike.
So, how will celebrities respond to COVID-19, currently cancelling much of what we’ve come to appreciate about our 21st century lives? So far, it’s a mixed report card. The mood certainly isn’t as positive, or bipartisan, as Hollywood’s 9/11 reactions.
The scourge of Orange Man Bad remains partially to blame, to the industry’s shame.
Let’s start with the best Hollywood reactions, including the most prominent name afflicted with the virus.
Two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks and his bride, Rita Wilson, shared their positive diagnosis last week. Since then, they’ve used social media to brief us on their continuing good health and even better humor.
“There’s no crying in baseball,” Hanks shared, citing one of his many famous film lines. Hanks and Wilson are doing no small measure with their good cheer. They’re letting people know the virus isn’t a death sentence, and hope is very much part of our future.
Actor Idris Elba struck a similar note when he shared his positive diagnosis.
The “Luther” star also squashed an <a href="https://variety.com/2020/film/news/idris-elba-conspiracy-theories-black-people-coronavirus-1203537477/">insipid rumor</a> in the process: “Stop sending out these stupid WhatsApp messages about black people not getting it. That’s ridiculous. You’re making us all look stupid. Just know you have to be as vigilant as every other race. This disease does not discriminate.”
<a href="https://www.techhive.com/article/3533259/chris-martin-john-legend-perform-online-concerts-amid-coronavirus.html">John Legend and Chris Martin</a> brought their music into our quarantined homes through the wonders of streaming media. No long lines, no cheap seats. Good for them. Other artists quickly followed their lead.
“Music can heal, music can bring us together,” Legend said during his online concert.
Matthew McConaughey leaned, hard, on his “all right, all right, all right” persona to <a href="https://people.com/movies/matthew-mcconaughey-offers-inspirational-message-during-coronavirus-pandemic-just-keep-living/?fbclid=IwAR0C26anzK8m_6BEEdyOXKHSWAM5LY9i2vcRNlvI4MHu0FWBjhydUfRx2bM">share positive vibes via Twitter.</a>
“In these crazy times that we’re in with the coronavirus, let’s take care of ourselves and each other,” McConaughey starts off. “Let’s not go to the lowest common denominator and get paranoid. Let’s do our due diligence and take the precautions we need to to take care of ourselves and those of us around us, right now more than ever.”
Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively took a more direct approach. They cut a $1 million check for two food banks to help those who are suffering from the rampant closures happening across the nation, not to mention supermarkets greeting customers with bare shelves.
Leave it to legendary funny man Mel Brooks to make us smile and share solid advice in under five minutes.
Brooks teamed with his son, “World War Z” author Max Brooks, for a funny video urging everyone to embrace social distancing. The accompanying hashtag, #DontBeASpreader, hammered home the point with love and humor.
More kind thoughts and charity will likely follow, yet not everyone in La La Land is focused on healing during these difficult times.
Let’s start with director Rob Reiner, a man with the highest level of Trump Derangement Syndrome possible. Reiner raged that Trump <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/rob-reiner-donald-trump-removed-from-office-coronavirus">must step down</a>, now, because he said so.
“We will get through this. But unfortunately not with the help of this President,” <a href="https://twitter.com/robreiner/status/1239556505013063680">Reiner wrote</a>. “First he must be removed from the public square to let competent experts take over, then he must be removed from office to allow US to heal.”
Debra Messing, who famously vowed not to work with Trump supporters in Hollywood, used the virus as another way <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/debra-messing-maga-die-trump-coronavirus">to blast the president</a>.
“LIAR-IN-CHIEF,” <a href="https://twitter.com/DebraMessing/status/1239960967678656512">Messing began her tweet</a>. “#Maga have been unmoved by the 16500 lies 45 has made since elected. Now that innumerable people (including MAGA) will die, because of his lies and inaction, I wonder if MAGA will recognize that 45 must be voted out?”
Several stars, like George Takei, used the virus’ proper verbiage (the Wuhan Flu, the Chinese Virus) as a cudgel to strike Trump. Never mind that many media outlets used the same verbiage for days and days without a peep of protest.
Perhaps the ugliest celebrity missive came from Rosanna Arquette. The veteran actress initially shared a conspiracy <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/actress-rosanna-arquette-issues-vicious-tweet-jewish-conspiracy-behind-coronavirus">theory attacking Israel,</a> not China, as the possible source of the virus.
Arquette, who is Jewish, <a href="https://jewishjournal.com/news/nation/312350/rosanna-arquette-apologizes-for-israel-coronavirus-tweet/">later apologized for the tweet.</a>
We likely won’t get a mea culpa from Bette Midler. The Divine Miss M’s recent Tweet directly blamed the president for the virus’s devastation on U.S. soil.
Facts? She doesn’t need any facts. She’s got Twitter and, amazingly, more than 1.9 million followers.
“I AM TRYING NOT TO ADD TO THE NOISE AND CRAZINESS, BUT DONALD TRUMP IS A F***ING MADMAN,” Midler <a href="https://twitter.com/bettemidler/status/1240051665920765953?s=21">tweeted</a>. “HE THINKS WE DON’T REMEMBER ALL THE JIVE HE SPEWED FOR TWO IMPORTANT MONTHS. One more thing. None of this would be happening if he were not President.”
So, while some stars are giving their time, creativity and cash to heal a battered country, others are doing all they can to stoke the divide for partisan political purposes.

TOTO: Meet The Hollywood Heroes (And Villains) Of The COVID-19 Nightmare

Tom Hanks

Famous English actor Idris Elba revealed in a video posted on Twitter Monday morning that he just learned he had tested positive for coronavirus. Stressing that he is &#8220;okay,&#8221; the actor urged his followers to cut through the divisive &#8220;bullsh**,&#8221; come together in &#8220;solidarity&#8221; and &#8220;don&#8217;t freak out.&#8221;
&#8220;This morning I tested positive for Covid 19,&#8221; the popular actor tweeted along with a video announcement. &#8220;I feel ok, I have no symptoms so far but have been isolated since I found out about my possible exposure to the virus.&#8221; The acclaimed actor then offered some advice to his nearly 3 million followers: &#8220;Stay home people and be pragmatic. I will keep you updated on how I’m doing. No panic.&#8221;
&#8220;This morning I got some test results back from coronavirus, and it came back positive,&#8221; Elba says in the video message, which includes his wife Sabrina, who, he explained, has not yet been tested (video below).
&#8220;Yeah, and it sucks,&#8221; he acknowledged. &#8220;Listen, I&#8217;m doing okay. Sabrina hasn&#8217;t been tested, and she&#8217;s doing okay.&#8221;
&#8220;I didn&#8217;t have any symptoms,&#8221; the actor explained. &#8220;I got tested because I realized that I was exposed to someone who had also tested positive. I found out last Friday that they were tested positive. I quarantined myself and got a test immediately and got the results back today.&#8221;
&#8220;Look, this is serious,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Now&#8217;s the time to really think about social distancing, washing your hands. Beyond that there are people out there who aren&#8217;t showing symptoms, and that can easily spread it. So now&#8217;s a time to be real vigilant about washing your hands and keeping your distance, okay.&#8221;
&#8220;We&#8217;ve told our families; they&#8217;re very supportive,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;We&#8217;ve told our colleagues.&#8221;
&#8220;Transparency&#8217;s probably the best thing for this right now,&#8221; he urged. &#8220;If you&#8217;re feeling ill or you feel like you should be tested or you&#8217;ve been exposed, then do something about it, all right — it&#8217;s really important.&#8221;
&#8220;Look, we live in a divided world right now, we can feel it — it&#8217;s been bullsh**,&#8221; he emphasized. &#8220;But now&#8217;s the time for solidarity, now&#8217;s the time to be thinking about each other. There are so many people whose lives have been affected — from those who have lost people they have loved, to those who don&#8217;t even have it and have lost their livelihoods. This is real.&#8221;
He concluded by promising he&#8217;d give updates about his condition and encouraging people to &#8220;stay positive and don&#8217;t freak out.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
This morning I tested positive for Covid 19. I feel ok, I have no symptoms so far but have been isolated since I found out about my possible exposure to the virus. Stay home people and be pragmatic. I will keep you updated on how I’m doing 👊🏾👊🏾 No panic. <a href="https://t.co/Lg7HVMZglZ">pic.twitter.com/Lg7HVMZglZ</a>
&mdash; Idris Elba (@idriselba) <a href="https://twitter.com/idriselba/status/1239617034901524481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Another famous actor who has revealed that he has coronavirus is Tom Hanks, who contracted the virus while working on a film in Australia and told the world in a social media post last Wednesday that he and his wife Rita Wilson had both tested positive. Like Elba, he also made a point of noting that they were both doing pretty well.
&#8220;Hello folks. Rita and I are down here in Australia. We felt a bit tired, like we had cold hands, and some body aches. Rita had some chills that came and went. Slight fevers too. To play things right, as is needed in the world right now, we were tests for the Coronavirus, and were found to be positive,&#8221; Hanks announced Wednesday. &#8220;Well, now. What to do next? The Medical Officials have protocols that must be followed. We Hanks’ will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires. Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time approach, no?”
“We’ll keep the world posted and updated,” he concluded. “Take care of yourselves! Hanx!” As he said he would, Hanks and his family have continued to provide updates for their fans and appear to be doing well.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/no-crying-in-baseball-tom-hanks-posts-message-from-coronavirus-quarantine">‘NO CRYING IN BASEBALL’: Tom Hanks Posts Message From Coronavirus Quarantine</a>

WATCH: Idris Elba Reveals He Has Coronavirus In Viral Video, Offers Advice On Cutting Through The ‘Bullsh**’’

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