Anti-vaccine conservative talk radio host and fervent Trump defender Phil Valentine has died following a lengthy battle with COVID-19, Tennessee’s News Channel 5 reported Saturday.
According to the report, Valentine had been battling the virus for more than a month. He was 61 years old.
Valentine was a prominent voice on Nashville radio for decades and voiced his opposition to the COVID-19 vaccine.
In December of 2020 he tweeted “I have a very low risk of A) Getting COVID and B) dying of it if I do. Why would I risk getting a heart attack or paralysis by getting the vaccine?”
He even recorded a parody song – Vaxman – mocking the vaccine.
In July, he told his audience he had COVID and he expected to be back soon. But later updates from family and friends indicated how serious it was.
Valentine’s brother said Phil regretted not being more pro-vaccine and wrote if he got back on the radio he would encourage people to get vaccinated.
According to family and friends, Valentine fought hard, but was unable to beat the virus.
We are saddened to report that our host and friend Phil Valentine has passed away. Please keep the Valentine family in your thoughts and prayers. pic.twitter.com/vhXpE7x0oX
— SuperTalk 99.7 WTN (@997wtn) August 21, 2021
