Massive Chook of Sesame Avenue attends the 2018 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 22, 2018 in New York Metropolis. His announcement about getting the COVID-19 vaccine elicited a combined response.
Noam Galai/FilmMagic
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Noam Galai/FilmMagic
Massive Chook of Sesame Avenue attends the 2018 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 22, 2018 in New York Metropolis. His announcement about getting the COVID-19 vaccine elicited a combined response.
Noam Galai/FilmMagic
Massive Chook ruffled some conservatives’ feathers this weekend by asserting that he had been vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19.
The beloved Muppet tweeted on Saturday that he had gotten the shot, which is newly available for Individuals between the ages of 5 and 11. Massive Chook has been a fixture of kids’s tv since 1969 however is technically 6 years old.
“My wing is feeling a little bit sore, but it surely’ll give my physique an additional protecting increase that retains me and others wholesome,” he wrote.
Twitter customers sounded off within the feedback, with many thanking the character for doing his half to maintain Sesame Avenue protected and set a optimistic instance for youths. President Biden and Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky have been amongst those that supplied their thanks and reward.
Others weren’t as appreciative.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) decried Massive Chook’s tweet as “authorities propaganda.”
Fox Information contributor Lisa Boothe accused the Muppet of “brainwashing kids,” whereas Newsmax host and former Trump adviser Steve Cortes slammed the announcement as “evil” propaganda.
Each made false claims that kids are usually not vulnerable to COVID-19 — whereas most kids contaminated with the virus exhibit solely gentle signs, specialists say vaccines can prevent many infections and hospitalizations, in addition to disruptions to education.
Different commenters denounced Massive Chook as a puppet (actually) and communist. Lavern Spicer, a congressional candidate in Florida, wrote that “Massive Chook & Elmo are at the least a step UP from [Dr. Anthony] Fauci, however utilizing them to push the drug is simply as reprehensible nonetheless.”
And a few went a lot darker, like Tennessee congressional candidate Bobby Starbuck and alt-right social media character Mike Cernovich.
Many observers famous the irony of the pile-on, on condition that Massive Chook is each a fictional character and one recognized for spreading messages of kindness and curiosity. Plus, they identified, this is not the primary time he is gotten vaccinated.
Massive Chook has been serving to youngsters vaccinate because the starting, I am certain everybody remembers their classes from Sesame Avenue, particularly those about Kindness and caring for one another. pic.twitter.com/L84kTjRWbV
— Kwertzy fulla Turkey (@kwertzy) November 7, 2021
Massive Chook himself mentioned he had simply realized that he had been getting vaccines since he was “a little bit chook.”
An account referred to as “Muppet Wiki” backed up these claims with a series of video clips from a 1972 episode during which Massive Chook will get vaccinated in opposition to measles.
And Massive Chook is not the one younger resident of Sesame Avenue to get the COVID-19 jab, both. The turquoise, bilingual muppet Rosita (who is outwardly 5) additionally bought vaccinated lately.
The 2 appeared on CNN — with Granny Chook too — over the weekend to share their questions, experiences and recommendations on getting the shot.
This story initially appeared in the Morning Edition live blog.
