COVID-19, the novel coronavirus has affected the lives of millions of citizens across the country and the globe. It’s also impacting the lives of celebrities.
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson were the first celebrities to be diagnosed with the coronavirus in March of 2020. Chet Hanks, son of Tom & Rita came out to social media shortly after the announcement of his parents to give their fans an update on his family’s health. Chet assures us that his parents are in high spirits and are doing just fine.
Following the Hanks’ news was the NBA suspending the season indefinitely due to two players on the Utah Jazz getting the coronavirus, center Rudy Gobert and guard Donovan Mitchell. On Monday, March 16 – actor Idris Elba revealed that he had been diagnosed with coronavirus, days after NBA player Christian Wood had tested positive for COVID-19 and on Tuesday, four players of the Brooklyn Nets had confirmed positive tests – including Kevin Durant. Since then, Mitchell, Wood, and Gobert have all been cleared of COVID-19.
On March 24, Slim Thug shocked the Houston community and hip-hop world at large when he revealed he tested positive for coronavirus. Two days later, Scarface revealed his diagnosis. On March 27, ESPN announcer Doris Burke revealed she had tested positive for COVID-19 and was recovering.
In the months (and now years) that have followed, a number of individuals from both the celebrity, sports and political spectrum have tested positive with the virus from former President Donald Trump to Herman Cain, Michael Strahan, Nick Cannon and more. Here is the official list of celebs that currently have been diagnosed with coronavirus.
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Public Figures & Celebs Who’ve Tested Positive Or Died Due To COVID-19 Complications [UPDATED OCTOBER 18] was originally published on rnbphilly.com
1. Colin Powell
Source:WENNPowell, the nation’s first Black secretary of state and former four-star general, passed away on Monday (October 18) from COVID-19 complications. He was 84.
2. Smokey Robinson
Source:GettyIn a new interview with the Daily Mail, the 81-year-old Motown singer thought he was going to die after having COVID in December 2020.
3. Chris Rock
Source:GettyOn Sunday (September 19), comedian and actor Chris Rock revealed he tested positive for COVID on Twitter and urged people to get vaccinated.
“Hey guys I just found out I have COVID, trust me you don’t want this. Get vaccinated.”
4. Wendy Williams
Source:The Rickey Smiley Morning ShowOn Wednesday (September 15), Wendy Williams revealed she tested positive for a “breakthrough case” of COVID-19.
The debut of the 13th season of The Wendy Williams Show has been delayed until October due to the positive test.
5. Kelly Price
Source:SANG GIRL! IncKelly Price shared on her Instagram page that she has tested positive for COVID-19 and had to cancel her latest performance dates on July 29.
6. Nick Cannon
Source:GettyOn February 4, it was revealed Nick Cannon tested positive for COVID-19, prompting The Masked Singer to temporarily replace him with Niecy Nash until he recovered.
7. Michael Strahan
Source:GettyFormer Texas Southern University great and Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan tested positive for COVID-19 and has been of GMA for a week. Per TMZ, he was in contact with someone who tested positive on Saturday (January 23) and took precautions in quarantining. He’s not experiencing any symptoms and will do ‘GMA’ remotely until he tests negative.
8. Dave Chappelle
Source:GettyOn January 21, TMZ reported Chappelle had tested positive for COVID-19 and was quarantining. The comedian had been performing numerous shows in Austin, Texas alongside Joe Rogan and announced those shows would be canceled and a refund would be issued.
9. Ashanti
Source:GettyOn Saturday (December 12), Ashanti revealed she tested positive for COVID-19, prompting the postponement of her VERZUZ celebration with Keyshia Cole.
10. Charley Pride
Source:GettyCharley Pride, country music’s first Black superstar, passed away on Saturday, December 12 from COVID-19 complications in Dallas. He was 86.
11. Carol Sutton
Source:GettyOn Thursday (December 10), actress Carol Sutton passed away from COVID-19 complications. She was 76.
12. Tommy “Tiny” Lister
Source:GettyTommy “Tiny” Lister passed away on Thursday, December 11. Although his official cause of death has yet to determined, the 62-year-old character actor best known for playing “Deebo” in Friday had battled COVID-19 and still had lingering symptoms.
13. Ben Carson
Source:GettyOn November 9, ABC News revealed that Ben Carson had tested positive for COVID-19, the latest in a wide number of White House officials who’ve contracted the virus.
His deputy chief of staff says he’s “in good spirits & feels fortunate to have access to effective therapeutics which aid and markedly speed his recovery.” Carson attended the election night party at the White House.
14. Cam Newton
Source:GettyOn Saturday (October 3), ESPN insider Adam Schefter revealed that Patriots quarterback Cam Newton tested positive for COVID-19 and would be out for the Pats upcoming game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
15. Donald Trump
Source:NewsOne NowOn October 1, U.S. President Donald Trump became the most noted individual to test positive for COVID-19, including his wife, First Lady Melania Trump. Since his positive test, White House advisor Hope Hicks, former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, Kellyanne Conway and a number of U.S. Senators have tested positive.
In total, 25 people related to Trump and White House events have tested positive in the last two days.
16. Vivica A. Fox
Source:WENNFox missed the E! pre-show telecast of the Emmys after it was revealed she was quarantining due to contracting COVID-19.
17. Tiffany Haddish
Source:Courtesy of GQThe actress and comedian revealed she had tested positive for COVID-19 during a conversation with Dr. Anthony Faucci on her YouTube channel.
18. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
Source:GettyOn Sept. 2, The Rock revealed that not only did he test positive for COVID-19 but so did his wife and two daughters.
19. Kevin Hart
Source:Radio OneKevin Hart revealed that he tested positive for COVID-19 “around the same time” as Tom Hanks did back in March.
20. Usain Bolt
Source:GettyUsain Bolt, the multi-time Olympic gold medalist and world-record holder, tested positive after throwing a massive 34th birthday party in his native Jamaica.
21. Peter Thomas
Source:Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)The former Real Housewives of Atlanta star revealed his battle with COVID-19 on August 4.
22. Herman Cain
Source:GettyHerman Cain, the former Presidential candidate who was diagnosed with COVID-19 days after attending a Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma – died of COVID-19 complications on July 30. He was 74.
23. Keisha Lance Bottoms
Source:Radio OneOn Monday (July 6), Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms revealed she had tested positive for COVID-19.
24. D.L. Hughley
Source:Richmond Funny BoneD.L. Hughley confirmed he tested positive for COVID-19 one day after fainting on stage during a performance in Nashville, TN.
25. Ezekiel Elliott
Source:WENNOn June 15, NFL insider Ian Rapoport revealed that Elliott was among several NFL players who had tested positive for COVID-19.
26. Patrick Ewing
Source:WENNOn May 22, NBA legend and head coach of the Georgetown Hoyas Patrick Ewing revealed he tested positive for COVID-19.
27. Von Miller
Source:WENNVon Miller, the Super Bowl 50 MVP tested positive according to his agent, Joby Branion. He says he’s in “good spirits”. He’s the most prominent figure in the NFL to have tested positive for the virus.
28. Jacqueline Towns, Mother Of Karl-Anthony Towns
COVID-19 struck the basketball world one month ago today and now, it has tragically affected one of the league’s best young players. Minnesota Timberwolves’ center Karl-Anthony Towns‘ mother, Jacqueline Towns has passed away.
29. Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds
Source:GettyOn his 62nd birthday, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds made a shocking revelation – he and his family were infected with COVID-19.
“I feel so blessed to be able to celebrate another birthday,” he wrote in a statement posted to Twitter. “I tested positive for the Covid19 virus, as did my family. It’s an incredibly scary thing to go through my friends.”
The legendary singer/songwriter did not give an immediate timetable to his diagnosis but did say that he and his family no longer positive for the virus which has ravaged the world. “I’m happy to report we have now tested negative and are on our way back to full health.”
30. Kierra Clark Sheard
Her grandparents recovered from Coronavirus and she is currently recovering from mild symptoms of it.
31. BeBe Winans
Gospel singer BeBe Winans took to social media on Thursday to reveal that even though he is a man of faith and initially thought that people were being driven by fear of the virus, he tested positive for the coronavirus, along with his mother, Delores Winans, and brother, Marvin Winans.