Magda Szubanski: COVID conspiracy theorists target TV star with ‘abhorrent' comments after cancer diagnosis
Cancer-stricken Magda Szubanski has been targeted with 'abhorrent' comments on social media after going public with her potentially life threatening diagnosis.
On Thursday, the Australian TV comedy legend revealed she had been diagnosed with stage four mantle cell lymphoma, an aggressive form of blood cancer.
It didn't take long for the conspiracy theorists to come out of the woodwork.
Amid the avalanche of well wishes from celebrity friends and ordinary Australians, within hours they were trying to link her diagnosis to the COVID vaccine.
Szubanski has been a long been a target of anti-vaxxers after she was vocal about her support for the vaccine and the strict measures put in place during the COVID pandemic.
One rabidly anti-vax account on X suggested on Thursday she had been diagnosed with 'turbo cancer', linking it to the vaccine, with a follower suggesting she should 'apologise for pushing the vax on others'.
Another wrote, 'She was asking for fifth booster in 2022 wonder where she's at now?'
But Szubanski's supporters have come out firing, denouncing the ugly posts.
'Anti-Vaxxers don't want to be treated with contempt by society, then behave abhorrently online.
'Magda Szubanski reveals blood cancer, then you post your cooker rubbish all over news article. Think of her and her family and friends. You not cookers, you are just scum.'
Another wrote: 'Cookers attacking Magda for getting cancer. Just the absolute dross of humanity.'
During the height of the pandemic, Szubanski was a vocal advocate for the COVID lockdown and the vaccine.
In 2020, Szubanski was the victim of a hate campaign after appearing in a Victorian Government TV ad as her Kath & Kim character, netball loving Sharon Strzelecki, urging people to abide by the strict rules introduced to keep people safe from the potentially deadly virus.
'I tell you what I am so over this lockdown,' she said.
'Playing netball against yourself is not all it's cracked up to be, especially when you still can't even win.
'But you know what, it's not the lockdown that's the enemy, it's the virus and the sooner we obey the rules the sooner this will all be over and we can get back to the stuff that really matters ... netty.'
Szubanski hit out at haters on Twitter following the release of the video.
'Bring it Covid Deniers – let's see what you got. Let's bring you right out into the sunshine. Let's see your real names. And your real facts,' she wrote.
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West Australian
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The 10 celebrities taking the toboggan plunge into a pool of ice costumed as Aussie stage, screen and sporting legends include Olympic swimmer Ariarne Titmus, actor Matt Nable (who lost his brother to MND), former Australian cricket captain and 1999 Australian of the Year Mark Taylor, Olympian and Sunrise co-host Matt Shirvington, AFL legends Peter Daicos and Aaron Davey, netballer Liz Watson and Aussie cricket captain Alyssa Healy. "Since the first Big Freeze in 2015, this movement has grown into a force of nature, fuelled by the generosity of Australians across the country," Daniher says. "The generosity and unwavering spirit of the community has inspired change and fuelled hope." A year after his diagnosis, Daniher co-founded FightMND with Dr Ian Davis and Pat Cunningham. Sadly, MND has since claimed the lives of Dr Davis and Mr Cunningham's wife Angie, but the legacy they created with Daniher lives on. 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JoJo Siwa's ex Kath Ebbs asks for space to 'heal in peace'
JoJo Siwa's ex Kath Ebbs wants to "heal in peace". Kath - who is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns - has responded to people "constantly" trolling them over their ex's newly confirmed romance with Chris Hughes, who she met during her time in the 'Celebrity Big Brother UK' house. In a series of posts on her Instagram Story, she wrote: "Last month was mental health month and this month is pride... "I wish people would put themselves in someone else's shoes for a moment before indulging in this kind of online toxicity. "Better yet to a person that literally did nothing wrong. I'm so sick of being gaslight over and over again by said people and the public. It needs to stop. "You don't need to choose sides, instead you could do me the courtesy of letting me in heal in peace." Kath, 27, urged their critics to "be obsessed with those that are screaming for attention", while pointing out they have "never asked for any of this". They wrote: "People constantly troll me and telling me to 'get over it' whilst simultaneously not getting over it themselves. "Go be obsessed with those that are screaming for the attention, they love it and they are build for it. "I'm not and never asked for any of this. My only crime was being in a committed loving relationship and then humiliated on a world stage. How does that make me a horrible person?" Kath said they are trying to "weather the storm", while insisting they don't owe anyone an explanation from their point of view. They continued: 'I've been working so hard to hold my own everyday through this. "Using the tools I have to weather the storm, stay sane and sit knowing I don't need to share the truth of it with the world because those that actually matter in REAL life know exactly what happened and that should be all that matters to me." Kath was in a relationship with JoJo when she entered the house, but their relationship ended at the 'Celebrity Big Brother' wrap party. Asked if their bond is platonic or romantic, JoJo paused for some time before she told The Guardian newspaper this week: 'It's not platonic any more, and it's been a beautiful development, a beautiful connection, and I'm absolutely head over heels for him and he's the same way.' JoJo dismissed speculation her relationship with Chris is a "PR stunt". She said: 'Clearly, you've never been around us. I won't ever speak for him, but for me personally, the happiness in my life just radiates off of me right now. Literally yesterday, I was massaging my cheeks; I've never [before] been in pain from smiling so much.'
