• 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
  • Sophia Bush’s girlfriend ‘proud’ the actress has opened up about coming out as queer
  • Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!
  • Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

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

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
  • US restores handful of wildlife protections axed by Trump
  • Kathy Griffin Says Donald Trump Supporters Are ‘Crazed Over Me’ Years After Gruesome Head Photo Went Viral
  • Donald Trump Demands ‘Guaranteed Immunity’ for Presidents While Bizarrely Citing Pedophile Priests and ‘Bad Apple’ Cops
  • Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

    Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Mel B will “always be open” when it comes to her sexuality. The Spice Girls singer, 48, who reunited with her bandmates including the group's ex-singer Victoria Beckham for the fashion …Read More »
  • Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

    Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Megan Thee Stallion is being sued for allegedly creating a hostile work environment and forcing her cameraman to watch her having lesbian sex. The 29-year-old ‘Savage' rapper faces the salacious claims …Read More »
  • Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

    Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Jonathan Bennett's life was “changed forever” by his role in ‘Mean Girls'. The 42-year-old actor starred as heartthrob Aaron Samuels in the 2004 cult classic – which followed Lindsay Lohan, Rachel …Read More »
  • Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

    Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass a gift basket after he came out as gay. The 44-year-old NSYNC star revealed the legendary singer showed his support when Lance decided to reveal …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

Most Recent

  • Sophia Bush’s girlfriend ‘proud’ the actress has opened up about coming out as queer

    Sophia Bush’s girlfriend ‘proud’ the actress has opened up about coming out as queer

  • Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

    Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

  • Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

    Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

  • Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

    Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

  • Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

    Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

  • Relationship status influences heterosexual women’s sexual prejudice towards lesbians

    Relationship status influences heterosexual women’s sexual prejudice towards lesbians

  • JoJo Siwa had a challenge transitioning to new grown-up image

    JoJo Siwa had a challenge transitioning to new grown-up image

  • Liz Hurley defends lesbian sex scene in new movie that was directed by her son

    Liz Hurley defends lesbian sex scene in new movie that was directed by her son

Partner Links

  • OMG, have you heard? Orville Peck quenches the thirsty desert cacti of Instagram
    Orville Peck feeds the thirsty desert cacti of Insta with new […]
  • OMG, new music: Avril Lavigne reunites with Simple Plan for early 2000s-tinged ‘Young & Dumb’
    It’s very soccer chant-meets-mall punk, but whoever it is managing Avril […]
  • Trump Admin Pressures Tariff Countries For Starlink Contracts
    Don’t say we didn’t warn you (thanks to Sen. Chris Murphy) […]
  • How Jeffrey Seller became one of Broadway’s biggest producers with “Rent,” “Hamilton” and “Avenue Q”
    Jeffrey Seller grew up an outsider, but with his talent, passion […]
  • Sean Duffy Voted Against Upgrades To Air Traffic Control System
    When Trump Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy was in Congress he voted […]

Most Commented

Social

Twitter @tlrd | Facebook | Instagram @tlrd

About

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy
[towleroadmr] [towleroadtn]

Footer

Ptown Hacks 2018

Read

  • Travel
  • Film
  • Law – LGBT Rights
  • Columns
  • Specials

About

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 · Log in

×
×