• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Travel
  • Sports
  • Law/Justice
  • Celebrities
  • Republicans
  • Madonna
  • Books
  • Men
  • Trans Rights
  • Royals
  • Monkeypox
  • Rupert Everett claims to know who Prince Harry lost his virginity to
  • The year of Beyonce? Music’s elite head to the Grammys
  • It’s A Family Affair! Madonna’s Six Children Will Have Special Roles In Her ‘Celebration’ Tour

John Oliver Beats Down Coronavirus Conspiracy Theories with Help from Catherine O’Hara, Billy Porter, Paul Rudd, Alex Trebek, and a Shirtless John Cena: WATCH

Andy Towle July 20, 2020 Leave a Comment

coronavirus conspiracy theories

On Sunday’s Last Week Tonight, John Oliver examined coronavirus conspiracy theories in depth, diving in to “why they’re so appealing, how to spot them, and what you might be able to do about it.”

Oliver first explained that over half of Americans consistently endorse at least one conspiracy theory, admitting that he is “not immune” to believing them either.

“Embarrassingly, there is a part of me that thinks the Royal Family had Princess Diana killed,” Oliver said. “I know that they didn’t because there’s absolutely no evidence that they did. But the idea still lingers. Because it felt too big an event to be accidental – there had to be some intent there. And experts will say that that is actually a huge draw of conspiracy theories. They help explain a chaotic uncertain world and appeal to the human impulse called proportionality bias, which is the tendency to assume that big events must have big causes.”

Added Oliver: “These theories have always been appealing, and have actually been particularly seductive during global health crises. … All of this would be dangerous enough before you take into account that one of the most prominent spreaders of conspiracies on Earth is the current president of the United States. … And I cannot believe I’m saying this, but the person with the clearest sense of just how deeply cynical Trump’s use of conspiracy theories is, is [Rush Limbaugh].”

Limbaugh, Oliver showed in a clip, observed that Trump never says he believes in the conspiracy theories but just sends them out into the universe where they blow up among his supporters.

Oliver, as he often does, provided a solution to at least some of the problem. He urged viewers to be critical and ask themselves, ” Is there a rational, non-conspiracy explanation? … Has this been held up to scrutiny by experts? … And how plausible is this conspiracy, as a practical matter?”

He also gave his solution a celebrity twist.

“What experts say is that the most effective way to approach someone is not by shaming them for believing something, or overwhelming them with counterevidence, but to try and be empathetic, meet them where they are, and nudge them to think a bit more critically,” he said, before introducing a series of videos starring John Cena, Catherine O’Hara, Billy Porter, Paul Rudd, and Alex Trebek.

Oliver collected the videos on a special website called The True True Truth. He encouraged you to share them with your dipshit uncles and other conspiracy theorists at home.

video
play-rounded-fill
Link
typorama 6 copy

Check out clips

Topics: Featured, Health, towleroad, World More Posts About: Alex Trebek, Billy Porter, Catherine OHara, conspiracy theories, coronavirus, Covid-19, Covid-19, Donald Trump, Health, John Cena, Paul Rudd, Rush Limbaugh

Related Posts
  • Trump outlines plan to attack trans rights if re-elected, vows to ‘protect children from left-wing gender insanity’
  • George Santos reported lots of spending in Florida. Here’s where he says he went
  • Stormy Daniels Declares It’s ‘Exhausting’ To Always Be Asked About Alleged Affair With Donald Trump: ‘I Wish He Would Go Away’
  • The year of Beyonce? Music’s elite head to the Grammys

    The year of Beyonce? Music’s elite head to the Grammys

    Published by AFP Beyonce, shown here attending the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards, has the most chances at Grammy gold this year Los Angeles (AFP) – The brightest stars in pop music will vie for the …Read More »
  • It’s A Family Affair! Madonna’s Six Children Will Have Special Roles In Her ‘Celebration’ Tour

    It’s A Family Affair! Madonna’s Six Children Will Have Special Roles In Her ‘Celebration’ Tour

    Published by Radar Online Mega Madonna‘s “greatest hits” would tour will be a family affair — with all of her six children joining her on the stage and off, RadarOnline.comhas learned. “Lourdes, David, Mercy, Stella, and …Read More »
  • Channing Tatum needed make-up on his bum for Magic Mike’s Last Dance

    Channing Tatum needed make-up on his bum for Magic Mike’s Last Dance

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Channing Tatum had to cover up a blemish on his bum for ‘Magic Mike’s Last Dance’. Make-up artists on the upcoming movie had to spend 20 minutes every day rubbing concealer …Read More »
  • Security Denies Madonna’s Daughter Lourdes Leon Entry To Marc Jacobs Fashion Show Upon Late Arrival

    Security Denies Madonna’s Daughter Lourdes Leon Entry To Marc Jacobs Fashion Show Upon Late Arrival

    Published by OK Magazine mega Fashionably too late? Lourdes Leon was stopped by security and not allowed inside a Marc Jacobs fashion show event on Thursday, February 2, after she showed up exactly as the show …Read More »
Previous Post: « ‘Lincoln Project’ Warns ‘This is How it Starts’ in Terrifying New Ad Highlight Trump’s Feds Snatching Protesters Off Streets in Unmarked Van: WATCH
Next Post: Christian Author Matthew Paul Turner Comes Out, Announces He’s Divorcing Wife: ‘Ending Our Marriage is Necessary Because I’m Gay’ »

Primary Sidebar

Adjacent News

  • Trans nonbinary Broadway star withdraws from Tony consideration over gendered categories

    Trans nonbinary Broadway star withdraws from Tony consideration over gendered categories

  • How Orlando’s gay community, after Pulse, helped spur proposed changes to blood donor rules

    How Orlando’s gay community, after Pulse, helped spur proposed changes to blood donor rules

  • Fabiola Santiago: Of course lying George Santos has ties to Florida. It’s where truth ‘comes to die’

    Fabiola Santiago: Of course lying George Santos has ties to Florida. It’s where truth ‘comes to die’

Good Trash: Going to Read It Somewhere, Y'know

  • Dennis Rodman On If He’d Ever Get Back With Ex-Girlfriends: “I Tried Madonna, I Tried Carmen Electra…”

    Dennis Rodman On If He’d Ever Get Back With Ex-Girlfriends: “I Tried Madonna, I Tried Carmen Electra…”

  • James Gunn Seemingly Confirms The DCU Will Finally Have Gay Superheroes

    James Gunn Seemingly Confirms The DCU Will Finally Have Gay Superheroes

  • Vanilla Ice Admits He Rejected Madonna’s Proposal Before They Split: ‘I Thought The Guy Was Supposed To Do That’

    Vanilla Ice Admits He Rejected Madonna’s Proposal Before They Split: ‘I Thought The Guy Was Supposed To Do That’

RSS Partner Links

  • George Santos Admits Lying To EVERYONE In Secret Recording
  • Melinda Dillon, A CHRISTMAS STORY Mom, Dies @ 83
  • “Lourdes Leon got blocked from entering the Marc Jacobs show” links
  • Princess Kate released another ‘Shaping Us’ video, this time with Roman Kemp
  • Real Fox News Or Just Some Made Up Bullsh*t?
  • OMG, WATCH: Doja Cat play ‘Smash or Pass’ with looks from the past!
  • Kim Kardashian Rocks Ripped Jeans For North West's Newest Basketball Game in LA

Most Recent

  • Rupert Everett claims to know who Prince Harry lost his virginity to

    Rupert Everett claims to know who Prince Harry lost his virginity to

  • The year of Beyonce? Music’s elite head to the Grammys

    The year of Beyonce? Music’s elite head to the Grammys

  • It’s A Family Affair! Madonna’s Six Children Will Have Special Roles In Her ‘Celebration’ Tour

    It’s A Family Affair! Madonna’s Six Children Will Have Special Roles In Her ‘Celebration’ Tour

  • Channing Tatum needed make-up on his bum for Magic Mike’s Last Dance

    Channing Tatum needed make-up on his bum for Magic Mike’s Last Dance

  • Security Denies Madonna’s Daughter Lourdes Leon Entry To Marc Jacobs Fashion Show Upon Late Arrival

    Security Denies Madonna’s Daughter Lourdes Leon Entry To Marc Jacobs Fashion Show Upon Late Arrival

  • Arriving Valentine’s Day: A Pair Of DC Comics Non-Binary Characters

    Arriving Valentine’s Day: A Pair Of DC Comics Non-Binary Characters

  • What is the #MascaraTrend and is it an adequate tool for free speech on TikTok?

    What is the #MascaraTrend and is it an adequate tool for free speech on TikTok?

  • ‘I don’t get canceled, really’: John Waters on his career, conservatives and taboos

    ‘I don’t get canceled, really’: John Waters on his career, conservatives and taboos

Most Commented

Social

Twitter @tlrd | Facebook | Instagram @tlrd

Footer

Copyright © 2023 · Log in

×