'Survival of the fittest': Outrage over NFL player's savage virus stance
NFL star Kirk Cousins has enraged fans after a blunt answer to a coronavirus question, while the US battles with the global pandemic.
The Minnesota Vikings quarterback was on the ‘Ringer’ podcast and was asked about his approach to masks during the pandemic.
'HERO’: Super Bowl winner quits season to remain on virus frontline
TOUGH CALL: NFL in a fix with differing virus results
Asked to rank his view, with one being ‘Masks are stupid,’ and 10 representing ‘I’m not leaving my master bathroom,’ Cousins went to the extreme.
“I’m not going to call anybody stupid, for the trouble it could get me in. But I’m about a .000001,” Cousins said.
But when he elaborated, Cousins said he would wear a mask to respect others concerned, but for him he has a ‘if I die, I die,’ approach.
“If I get it, I’m going to ride it out. I’m going to let nature do its course,” Cousins added.
“Survival-of-the-fittest kind of approach. And just say, if it knocks me out, it knocks me out. I’m going to be OK. You know, even if I die. If I die, I die. I kind of have peace about that."
“That’s really where I fall on it, so my opinion of wearing a mask is really being respectful to other people. It really has nothing to do with my own personal thoughts.”
Fans divided over Cousins virus comments
Cousins was praised for his brutal honesty on social media and some had no issue with his personal view, as long as he wore a mask.
But many took offence to his brazen words while the pandemic has wreaked havoc across the US for months.
Kirk Cousins being a complete and utter moron off the field as well as on the field shouldn’t surprise me. https://t.co/8WdhaoYauX
— Cian (@Cianaf) September 2, 2020
So when it comes to a deadly global pandemic Kirk Cousins is willing to throw caution to the wind, but on 3rd and 9 you know damn well he’s looking for that checkdown four yards short of the sticks.
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) September 2, 2020
Kirk Cousins is taking the Ivan Drago approach to COVID-19 pic.twitter.com/VZpKBmclns
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) September 2, 2020
People are crushing Kirk Cousins’ comments about Covid but missing the part where he says he still wears a mask out of respect for other people. Important piece of context folks choose to ignore
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) September 2, 2020
Why is Kirk Cousins getting destroyed today? He plainly said he wears a mask out of respect for others. Now that’s not good enough either? Whew. People gonna outrage just to outrage.
— Jason Lloyd (@ByJasonLloyd) September 2, 2020
Kirk Cousins overthinks about everything, except a global pandemic that has killed almost 200,000 people https://t.co/Twdp0M7R64
— Master (@MasterTes) September 2, 2020
The NFL is set to kick-off its season next month with a clash between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans.
Players have opted out of the NFL season due to health concerns regarding the coronavirus pandemic.
Data from John Hopkin’s University claims there has been more than six million coronavirus cases in the US since the beginning of the pandemic.
More than 180,000 people have died in the US from the virus.