Liberals are in danger of losing some of their own in the hysterical fears being stoked about the coronavirus crisis.
Fiction and horror-story author Stephen King blasted fear-mongers for comparing the disease to his postapocalyptic novel, “The Stand,” urging everyone to “keep calm” in a tweet on Sunday.
While COVID-19 has been responsible for infecting more than 111,000 people worldwide and is the cause of death for nearly 3,900 people, King asserted that is “NOT” anything like his 1978 fictional novel about a virus that wipes out most of humanity.
“No, coronavirus is NOT like THE STAND,” the outspoken Trump critic tweeted after comments by several people including actor James Marsden, who is starring in a television adaptation of the thriller, compared it to the coronavirus.
“It’s not anywhere near as serious. It’s eminently survivable,” the author of “The Shining” and “Pet Sematary” added. “Keep calm and take all reasonable precautions.”
No, coronavirus is NOT like THE STAND. It’s not anywhere near as serious. It’s eminently survivable. Keep calm and take all reasonable precautions.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) March 8, 2020
King’s novel is centered around a deadly influenza virus known as Captain Trips which sets off a worldwide pandemic after being created in a laboratory. The world’s population is nearly annihilated by the disease which has no cure or vaccine in the story.
“The Stand,” which depicts a chaotic world where the military enforces censorship to control information as society faces collapse, was adapted into a miniseries starring Gary Senise in 1994. The new adaptation is limited series for streaming service CBS All Access and stars Alexander Skarsgård, James Marsden, Amber Heard, and Whoopi Goldberg.
Marsden discussed the unsettling coincidences in a recent interview.
“There are scenes in the beginning of ‘The Stand’ where as soon as you see someone who looks normal sneeze or cough into their arm, everyone’s eyes in the room darts towards them,” Marsden said on “The Big Ticket” podcast last week. “I see that in public now, and everyone kind of takes a few steps away from the person. It’s crazy. We’re in full panic mode right now.”
“Obviously, no one would ever want to capitalize on something as horrible as this, but it certainly makes it relevant,” Marsden said. “I just don’t think about it and just keep chugging away.”
Liberals have repeatedly attacked President Trump and his administration’s response to the coronavirus outbreaks, but many point out that the public’s panic is the result of much media hype and the politicizing of the issue by Democratic lawmakers.
Fox News host Steve Hilton warned of the “catastrophic overreaction” to the coronavirus outbreak while even New York Governor Andrew Cuomo acknowledged that “fear is actually outpacing the facts.”
King’s frustration with the comparison to his novel is telling as the left’s obsession with trashing Trump is leading to hysteria and economic implications.
TRUMP is the real Killer Virus as deadly as THE STAND.
The worst is yet to come.
No joke.— Steven O (@GoHappyAlways) March 9, 2020
Not true, trust me. That’s what people though in Italy before the virus spread. It’s dangerous. The situation here is dramatic.
— Stevie (@steviechecov) March 8, 2020
WE ARE LIVING IN A STEPHEN KING NOVEL. #TheStand
— free2bhuman (@free2bhuman) March 9, 2020
Twitter users reacted to King’s admonishment with plenty of comments referring to “The Stand” and the current panic.
Stephen King, the voice of sanity. https://t.co/8W29D6VxQw
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) March 9, 2020
How is it that Stephen King is one of the more rational people on Twitter nowadays?
— Ginger Lady (@GingerLady6) March 9, 2020
Since when are you the voice of sanity?
Thank you, Stephen.
By the way..The Talisman was amazing.
— Rachel ???? (@RaychelTania) March 9, 2020
You people really aren’t smart. King plays it down and says don’t panic—no problem, Trump does the same and you all lose what’s left of your minds.
— CK1971 (@ck1971) March 9, 2020
Fact: “Captain Trips” is not on the loose. #TheStand https://t.co/vvgKJuUZWX
— Josh Kivett (@JoshKivett) March 9, 2020
People comparing coronavirus to your fictional book The Stand only shows how much anxiety, fear, and panic are being spread by the media.
— Steve_Jacobson⭐⭐⭐ (@Steve_Jacboson) March 9, 2020
omg kids, this is the first non-batshit-crazy tweet King has ever sent. mark your calendars.
— rachel-batzion (@RBatzion) March 9, 2020
I’m still calling it Capt Trips Jr.
— Bryan ?? ?#FamiliesBelongTogether (@swimmerbr78) March 8, 2020
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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