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Fox News reported that Dennis Quaid posted a response on his Instagram account to criticism that he took part in a President Trump campaign commercial financed by money originally intended to assist with the country’s COVID-19 recovery.
The video released on social media over the weekend included the caption “NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPOLITICIZED”. Quaid said in the video that he was “feeling some outrage and a lot of disappointment” after seeing what he described as “cancel culture media” looking to damage his reputation.
Politico reported earlier in the week that the White House and the Department of Health and Human Services used $300 million that was scheduled to be used the fight the coronavirus pandemic to produce a “defeat despair” campaign featuring several celebrities including Quaid.
Quaid said in his post to social media that his participation consisted solely of a recorded interview with director of the National Institute on Health and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci that was to be used as a Public Service Announcement.
“I have to say that right now I am feeling some outrage and a lot of disappointment about a PSA and interview that I did with Dr. Anthony Fauci a few weeks ago,” said Quaid of his part in the controversial PSA. Adding; “It is being used by the cancel culture media that I was doing a campaign ad and endorsement of Donald Trump and that I was paid handsomely for this by diverted CDC funds. Nothing could be further from the truth.”
Quaid said that he wanted to interview Dr. Fauci so he could share the information he learned with the listeners of his “Dennaissance” podcast.
The Hollywood veteran said; “The interview and the PSA were about raising awareness of COVID-19 and what we can still do to prevent lives being lost to this terrible, terrible virus,”
“It was about the importance of wearing a mask and social distancing and it was in no way political. In fact, Dr. Anthony Fauci and I both talked about it before that it was not to be political, as the virus is not political. I was not paid one penny for doing this interview and neither was Dr. Anthony Fauci.” continued Quaid.
Politico’s report claimed that Michael Caputo, a spokesperson for the health department, was assigned the task of creating an ad campaign that spoke positively of President Trump’s response to the pandemic, by the president himself. The Department of Health and Human Services has defended their public service announcements as apolitical messages meant to educate citizens on safety precautions.
Quaid accused the media of not doing “their homework” before accusing him of participating in the misappropriation of funds. He has been complimentary of President Trump’s response to the the COVID-19 outbreak.
“I think Trump, no matter what anybody thinks of him, is doing a good job at trying to get these states—and all of the American people—what they need, and also trying to hold our economy together and be prepared for when this is all over,” said Quaid to the Daily Beast.
H/T Fox News
