YouTube decided to take the trash out yesterday when it suspended Senator Rand Paul’s account for seven days after using the online platform to spread misinformation about coronaviruses.
Paul, who supports deregulation and believes companies should have the legal right to discriminate against whoever they want, posted a video falsely stating that face masks are ineffective against the spread of the coronavirus.
“Most of the masks you get over the counter don’t work,” the Kentucky Anti-Gay Senator said. “They don’t prevent infection.”
He also said that “cloth masks don’t work” either.
Both of Paul’s claims are wrong. The CDC, WHO, and countless public health experts, including epidemiologists, all agree that masks help protect against the spread of the coronavirus.
A YouTube spokesperson said Paul’s video violated the company’s policy on disinformation about COVID-19.
“We have removed content from Senator Paul’s channel for including allegations that masks are ineffective in preventing the contraction or transmission of COVID-19, in accordance with our COVID-19 medical disinformation policies,” said a spokesperson. “This resulted in an initial warning on the channel, meaning it cannot download content for a week, per our long-standing three-warning policy. “
As for Paul, he launched an angry tweet yesterday accusing YouTube of being run by a group of “left-wing morons” and then saying being banned from the platform was a “badge of honor.”
“Left-wing morons on Youtube ban me for 7 days for a video that quotes 2 peer-reviewed articles saying cloth masks don’t work,” he tweeted.
A badge of honor. . . left-wing morons on Youtube ban me for 7 days for a video that quotes 2 peer-reviewed articles saying cloth masks don’t work.
If you want to see the banned video go to Liberty Tree https://t.co/gsTUwuLZGL
– Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) August 10, 2021
We can only assume that, given how much he hates YouTube, Paul won’t be returning to the platform next week when his suspension is lifted.
Then, in a statement to the right-wing Liberty Tree website, he lied about lying when he said, “I didn’t lie. I didn’t use profanity. I did not spread any misinformation. I have only been telling the truth about what our government is trying to do to us, reducing our most basic freedoms, using the COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse. “
Paul’s wife Kelley has also weighed in on the issue, defending her husband by posting a quote from an email Dr Anthony Fauci wrote at the very start of the pandemic before the CDC updated its mask guidelines in April 2020 when more information on COVID-19 became available.
Cc: @AndyBeshearKY: “The typical mask you buy at a drugstore is not really effective at preventing the virus from entering, which is small enough to pass through the material. -Dr Fauci in an email advising a friend not to wear one. Unless they are for single use N95, masks do not protect children.
– Kelley Paul (@KelleyAshbyPaul) August 10, 2021
Here’s how folx on Twitter responds to Paul’s YouTube suspension…
The free market has decided that your opinion is garbage
– Travis Allen 🇺🇸 (@ TravisAllen02) August 10, 2021
Rand Paul is fully vaccinated. Pass it
– J (@GetYourGEDBro) August 10, 2021
No GOOD doctor has ever said, “I think I’m going to be a politician.” Taking care of people doesn’t work for me.
Only the crap.
The shits, the shits.
– Robyn Rundell (@RobynRundell) August 10, 2021
Wearing a mask is like wearing a seat belt. You might not need it every minute, but when you do, you’ll be damn glad it’s there and you didn’t go through a windshield.
– Shawn Kirkland 🇺🇸🌊🇺🇸🌊🇺🇸🌊🇺🇸🌊 (@ ShawnKirkland48) August 11, 2021
pic.twitter.com/askDf8AG7n
– Matt Bialer (@MattBialer) August 11, 2021
“The libertarian cries because companies practice free market practices. “
– Judson Hall 🇺🇸 (@judsonhh) August 10, 2021
If only you were taller and ashamed at all
– Luke Zaleski (@ZaleskiLuke) August 10, 2021
The men were going to war, now they are complaining about the banning of their cheesy videos on the internet.
– Akilah Hughes (@AkilahObviously) August 11, 2021
I have posted your video and it is a badge of honor.
– RandahlR (@ RandahlR1) August 10, 2021
It’s weird that you support companies that refuse to serve POCs or LGBTQ people for the sake of freedom from discrimination despite these customers threatening no harm, but you are angry because this company will not tolerate misinformation which actually risks the lives of other users.
– vibradiant (@vibradiant) August 11, 2021
Graham Gremore is editor and editor at Queerty. Follow him on Twitter @grahamgremore.
