A radio commentator in West Palm Beach, Florida who has been very vocal about coronavirus vaccines, died from complications from the virus, reports said.
Dick Farrel, former right-wing Newsmax host, used his local talk show to rail against Dr. Anthony Fauci, who he called "Foot-chee" and a "power tripping lying freak," and said no one should get immunized with the COVID-19 vaccine.
"Vaccine bogus bullshid!, Two peeps I know got vaxed and now have corona, hospitalized and critical," Farrel wrote on July 1. "Thank you Moderna, for nothing!", he added, according to Business Insider.
Farrel falsely told his radio supporters they don't have to get the vaccine if they had already survived the disease. The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention has advised former patients to get inoculated.
He called face coverings "face diapers" and "face pantys."
When the disease sent him to the hospital, the 65-year old Farrel mellowed down and changed his tune, urging friends to get vaccinated. He died Wednesday, NBC affiliate WPTV reported.
On Facebook, Farrel's close friend Amy Leigh Hair wrote that Farrel texted her and said to get vaccinated. "He told me this virus is no joke and said, 'I wish I had gotten it!'" Mary Papenfuss of Huffpost quoted Hair as saying.
Mike McCabe, Farrel's friend, said on Facebook that he had been battling the virus for three weeks before his death this week.
The U.S. state of Florida shattered the record for the most cases of the virus in a day on Friday with 23,900 infections -- the third time in the week, health officials said.
After Farrel's demise, friends and former colleagues began to pour in tributes.
Lee Strasser, CBS Radio West Palm Beach former market general manager, said Farrel was "outrageous, flamboyant, and willing to take on any and all comers," WPTV said.
Kit Farley, Farrel's partner, said he was known as "the other Rush Limbaugh" and that with a heavy heart, "I can only say this was so unexpected. He will be missed," Blake Montgomery of Daily Beast reported.
Just this week, a Republican Texas councilor fought a fatal bout with COVID-19 that saw him hospitalized and dead within three days. The councilman used his position to oppose vaccines and the wearing of face masks.
