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Letitia Wright faces backlash after sharing ‘anti-vaccination’ video on Twitter

<p>Letitia Wright</p> (Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)

Letitia Wright

(Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)

Letitia Wright is facing criticism after sharing a video on Twitter which questioned the safety of Covid-19 vaccines.

The Black Panther star, 27, posted the hour-long video, entitled Covid-19 vaccine: Should we take it?, on her Twitter page, alongside a praying hands emoji.

The hour-long video was from On the Table, a YouTube discussion channel, and features a monologue from presenter Tomi Arayomi, who shares his personal feelings on vaccines.

At one point, he says: “I don’t understand vaccines medically, but I’ve always been a little bit of a sceptic of them.”

He also adds: “We can just get that (the vaccine) out there and hope it doesn’t make extra limbs grow, hope to god you don’t develop children that have 11 fingers and 12 toes, we are hoping for the best. We have seen vaccines do damage before.”

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The British actor, who stars in Steve McQueen’s BBC series Small Axe, faced criticism from some fans for sharing the clip.

But Wright wrote it was “valid” to “simply ask what’s in [a vaccine]”.

“If you don’t conform to popular opinions. but ask questions and think for yourself....you get cancelled,” she wrote.

Actor Alex Sawyer replied to the post saying: “This is a frustratingly irresponsible use of a platform.”

Wright responded: “How so? Did you listen to it fully or jump to conclusions on how I use my platform?”

One fan warned her “they are going to make an example out of you”, but she replied: “Make an example out of me for asking if something is right for my body before taking it. interesting world we live in.”

Another Twitter user wrote: "That’s why the only way to get your answrs [sic] from your uncertainty is to question the right people, otherwise you’ll fall deeper into ignorance.

"Everyone can have an opinion, but if you want your opinion to raise awareness you have to be properly backed up.”

Wright replied: “Totally respect what you are saying here. I’ve also heard from medically qualified doctors who got their articles and videos taken down. Am I still wrong to question whats going on?”

In another response, she said: “Not my intention to make anyone upset, nor am I saying don’t take it. I’m just concerned about what’s in it that’s all. Isn’t that fair to question or ask?”

Marvel fans also shared Wright’s post with her co-star Don Cheadle, who plays James Rhodes/War Machine in the film series. He wrote: “Jesus… just scrolled through. hot garbage.

“Every time i stopped and listened, he and everything he said sounded crazy and f***** up. i would never defend anybody posting this. but i still won’t throw her away over it. the rest i’ll take off twitter. had no idea.”

Arayomi is described as “an internationally received and recognised Prophet, Speaker, Author and Founder of RIG Nation, a media platform with the Christian mission established since 2007 to train people to become prophets and prophets to be people”.

The description of the video says: “Tonight I’m talking about Luciferase, the ingredient allegedly being added to the Covid vaccine to detect those who have not taken it. Luciferase, named by its founder after Lucifer???

“Now this is only partially true on a fact check, but we explore this and more On The Table."

It comes after MP Damian Collins warned that anti-vaccine disinformation is one of the greatest risks to our way out of the global pandemic.

He said that those spreading falsehoods about a vaccine represent “one of the clearest examples of real-world harms that fake news can cause”.

Facebook has also pledged to remove false claims about new coronavirus vaccines that could lead to “imminent physical harm”.

British regulator The MHRA has approved the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine - with research showing it offers 95 per cent protection against the virus. The UK has ordered 40million doses.

Wright is expected to begin filming Black Panther 2 next summer. Chadwick Boseman – who portrayed the eponymous hero - died earlier this year.