Zachary Levi is under fire from members of the Broadway community after a bizarre online rant in which he used the death of former co-star Gavin Creel to promote conspiracy theories about coronavirus vaccines.
In a video posted to Instagram on Monday, the “Shazam!” actor said that Creel, who co-starred in the 2016 Broadway revival of “She Loves Me,” would be happy if he received the coronavirus vaccine. He said he believes he would still be alive if he hadn’t.
“I know this is going to offend some people and anger some people. I hope that doesn’t happen,” Levi said. “So, a few weeks ago, my friend Gavin Creel passed away. He was 48 years old and one of the healthiest people I know.”
After suggesting that coronavirus vaccines were being “forced on the American people” despite known side effects such as “turbo-gunning”, he added: Now, if that substance had not been put into his body, he would still be alive. ”
Creel is beloved by theater fans for her performance in “Hello Dolly!” ” and “Into the Woods” passed away last month from a rare malignant cancer. The actor’s partner, Alex Temple Ward, told The New York Times in a statement that Creel was diagnosed in July.
Levi’s video drew a sharp rebuke from Tony Award-winning actor Norbert Leo Butz, best known for playing Fierro in the original Broadway production of “Wicked.”
Gavin Creel (left) and Zachary Levi co-starred in the 2016 Broadway revival of “She Loves Me.”
Walter McBride, via Getty Images
“It’s incredibly unfortunate that you would politicize Gavin’s death. I really tried to do you a favor here,” Butts wrote. “I’m halfway there, and it’s been really hard. But I’m sure he’s heartbroken too, knowing that you felt the need to use his life and legacy to promote this awful platform.” It would have been.”
Actor and dancer Chaz Walcott felt similarly, writing: “Weaponizing a person’s death from cancer to advance a vaccine agenda is harmful, dangerous, and reprehensible. It’s out of control — and I don’t think you’re that level of unproven. I am appalled at the fact that you are sharing false information with your followers. You should be ashamed.”
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In recent years, Levi has repeatedly caused controversy for his conservative views.
An outspoken supporter of former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. endorsed President Donald Trump last month, calling the move “career suicide.”
A few days later, The Hollywood Reporter published an article speculating that Levi’s shift to the right began after his recent films Harold and the Purple Crayon and Shazam! Wrath of the Gods” did not do well at the box office.
“When he was cast to play Shazam, it was literally his dream,” a source told the magazine. “He thought this was his ticket to becoming The Rock or Chris Evans. But it didn’t happen for him and he’s bitter about it.”
