Anti-Vaccine Televangelist Marcus Lamb Dies of Covid-19 at 64

Marcus Lamb, televangelist and founding father of the Christian TV community Daystar, died Tuesday of covid-19 after being hospitalized with the illness, in keeping with a brand new report from the Star-Telegram. Lamb, whose community repeatedly denounced covid-19 vaccination efforts because the work of evil forces, was 64 years outdated.

“It’s with a heavy heart we announce that Marcus Lamb, president and founder of Daystar Television Network, went home to be with the Lord this morning,” Daystar stated in a tweet.

“The family asks that their privacy be respected as they grieve this difficult loss. Please continue to lift them up in prayer,” the community continued.

Lamb’s spouse Joni stated that earlier than his demise the televangelist tried various remedies for covid-19 but it surely’s not clear what particularly was tried. Lamb additionally reportedly had diabetes.

“We were trying to treat the covid and pneumonia with the different protocols we use, including the ones we talk about on Daystar,” Joni Lamb stated on Tuesday’s present, in keeping with the Washington Post.

“We used those — I myself used them and had breezed through covid. He 100 percent believed in everything we talk about here on Daystar, things that help so many people around the world with early protocol treatments for covid. We still stand by those obviously,” Joni Lamb continued.

The Daystar web site now incorporates a tribute to Lamb but additionally prominently shows a piece of the web site devoted to spreading misinformation concerning the security and efficacy of vaccines. The web site options talks by anti-vaccine figures like Robert Kennedy Jr. and Simone Gold, a determine you could bear in mind from a very unhinged press convention on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court in 2020.

“What if the most dangerous thing your child could face in life is the very thing you’re told by your doctor is safe?” the web site reads.

Lamb obtained criticism in 2020 for taking covid-19 reduction cash from the federal authorities and Inside Edition even did a phase about Daystar’s use of public cash. Daystar, regardless of having at the least $1 billion in wealth by its personal account, was a tax-exempt church.

Daystar obtained $3.9 million by means of the Paycheck Protection Program and the church purchased a non-public jet simply two weeks later, in keeping with Inside Edition. Lamb denied shopping for the jet with authorities funds and insisted to Inside Edition that it was bought with unspecified “investment” cash.

The jet was supposed for use for official ministry work solely, because it was bought by the church, however Inside Edition pointed to Lamb’s use of the jet to fly his household from Texas to Florida for a trip in 2020. Lamb ultimately returned the $3.9 million after strain from the Inside Edition phase.

The U.S. continues to see horrifying case counts and a staggering demise toll from covid-19, which has killed over 777,000 Americans because the pandemic started. The U.S. reported 108,601 new covid-19 circumstances and new 1,550 deaths from the illness on Tuesday alone.

The U.S. covid-19 vaccination price continues to be simply 59%, one of many lowest charges on the planet for rich international locations. It’s not clear if Lamb was vaccinated in opposition to covid-19.