Idris Elba Hits Out At Claims He Was 'Paid To Say He Had Coronavirus'

Idris Elba has hit out at claims that he was paid to say he had tested positive for Covid-19.

The Luther actor and his partner Sabrina had revealed earlier this month that they had contracted the deadly disease.

However, Elba has now come out and called rumours he received money to make up test results 'bulls***'.

Watch the full video here:

Speaking in an Instagram Live video, the 47-year-old said: "It shouldn't be about whether the rich or poor gets it. Everyone should be able to get a test, for sure. I think the negativity around test-shaming is counterproductive. I don't see what people get out of that.'

"And the idea that someone like myself is going to be paid to say I have coronavirus. That's absolute bulls***! Such stupidness.

"And people want to spread that like it's news. It's stupid. It's the quickest way to get people sick. It's no benefit to me and Sabrina saying that we got it and we ain't got it. I don't understand the logic of that."

Model Sabrina then jumped in, saying: "Or to say that we're stuck inside."

Before the Pacific Rim star then added: "There are a lot of people who conjure up these stories."

This comes after Elba said he believes the coronavirus pandemic is the world's response to being 'damaged' by the human race.

During an interview with Oprah Winfrey via FaceTime, Elba as asked about his thoughts on the outbreak of the novel coronavirus - which has currently killed more than 14,000 people globally.

"One of the upsides of this whole drama is that we are forced to think together as a race," Elba said, joined by Sabrina.

PA

"Our world has been taking a kicking. We have damaged our world and it's no surprise that our world is reacting to the human race."

He continued: "It is 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."

Winfrey also agreed, saying she believes the virus is 'here to teach us, show us something about ourselves, as individuals and also as a world of people'.

It's okay to not panic. LADbible and UNILAD's aim with our Coronavirus campaign, Cutting Through, is to provide our community with facts and stories from the people who are either qualified to comment or have experienced first-hand the situation we're facing. For more information from the World Health Organisation on Coronavirus, click here.

Dominic Smithers

Dominic graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History. Like you, Dom has often questioned how much use a second language has been. Well, after stints working at the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express, along with never setting foot in France, he realised the answer is surprisingly little. But I guess, c'est la vie. Contact us at [email protected]

@SmithersDom