‘Fear Porn’: Dr. Malone Criticizes Possible COVID-19 Lockdowns

Dr. Robert Malone, author of "Lies My Gov't Told Me", in Washington on Dec. 19, 2022. Jack Wang/The Epoch Times

Dr. Robert Malone, a key contributor to the mRNA vaccine technology, criticized the possibility of pandemic restrictions being reimposed, insisting that there was “no evidence” supporting the implementation of such measures.

“I personally believe that this is more fear porn. It’s not justified,” Dr. Malone said in an interview with Just the News media outlet. The lockdown measures were “illegal” in the first place “in terms of breaching of fundamental freedoms.” He pointed out that “there’s absolutely no evidence that there’s going to be a need to reimpose” the lockdowns.

“We’re being pummeled with fear about extinction-level events,” Dr. Malone said while listing “human-induced climate change, infectious disease, [carbon-based] energy, and the fear of nuclear war” as examples.

Dr. Malone’s comments come as several organizations are imposing mask mandates amid reports of rising infections. Hollywood studio Lionsgate recently sent a memo asking employees to wear masks after some of its workers got COVID-19.

On Aug. 20, Morris Brown College announced the reinstatement of COVID-19 mask mandates. Last week, Upstate Medical’s two hospitals in New York reimposed mandatory masking following reports of an uptick in COVID-19 infections.

The latest upsurge in infections is happening amid the emergence of a new COVID-19 strain called BA.2.86. which the World Health Organization has said is a “variant under monitoring.”

Dr. Malone noted that “when you dive into the actual risks” of the new COVID-19 variants, they appear “pretty non-threatening.” The chances of being seriously harmed by them are “extremely low,” the researcher stated.

If the Biden administration wishes to distribute updated vaccines for the new variants on a mass scale effectively, the government may have to declare an emergency, he said. However, Dr. Malone is not sure the White House will declare another federal emergency.

“This could be the wedge that really drives a break from federal policy by a wide number of states that are willing to damage their own economies to comply with what I assert is overt fear porn,” Dr. Malone stated.

“If the Feds go there, [are] Texas and Florida going to go there? Will California go there? Of course they will. You know, with a moment’s notice.”

Dr. Malone, who is an outspoken critic of COVID-19 mandates, was suspended by Twitter in December 2021. According to a Twitter message, he was banned for violating the platform’s “policy on spreading misleading and potentially harmful information related to COVID-19.”

His account was reinstated almost a year later, in December 2022, after billionaire Elon Musk acquired the platform in October 2022.

Opposing COVID Restrictions

As the possibility of widespread COVID-19 mandates and lockdowns rise, several lawmakers have come forward to resist such restrictions.

Trent Staggs, the Republican mayor of Riverton, Utah, said in an Aug. 24 post on X that “if COVID restrictions do come back. Once again, I will not comply.”

Students and parents arrive masked for the first day of the school year at Grant Elementary School in Los Angeles, California, on August 16, 2021. Photo by Robyn Beck /AFP via Getty Images

In a statement to Breitbart, Mr. Staggs said that “in 2020, when they decided to enforce business closures, social distancing, and masking, I directed our police not to enforce. If they bring it back, 100 percent, I will once again hold the line.”

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott also said that “there will be NO mask mandates” in his state, according to an Aug. 25 X post.

U.S. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno called on Republicans to “draw a line in the sand” in an Aug. 23 post on X.

“Any school that reimposes mask or vax mandates should have all of their federal funding cut. Any corporation that reimposes these mandates on their workers or consumers should be barred from receiving government contracts.”

Speaking to the “Moms for Liberty” group on Aug. 23, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) raised concerns about the reinstatement of mask mandates by some schools and offices in recent days.

“It’s alarming that the mandates are kicking in again … It’s like, OK, we noticed masks didn’t work, particularly for children. We always knew they didn’t work for kids,” he said. “N-95 masks can have some marginal benefits—but not to deny people freedom.”

Imposing Mask Mandates

Some Democrats are pushing for imposing face masks. “COVID is still a threat, and there are many long COVID sufferers,” Marianne Williamson, a Democratic candidate for the 2024 presidential race, said in an Aug. 2 post on X.

“We should reinstate mask mandates in healthcare settings; ensure free high-quality masks and PCR tests; and mandate effective air filtration for all public transportation, buildings, and businesses.”

Mariners Christian private school student Presley Penkeatou stands with parents and students as they gather in protests of wearing masks in schools in front of The Orange County Board of Education in Costa Mesa, Calif., on May 17, 2021. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

In an Aug. 21 post on X, Rep. Lee Snodgrass (D-Wis.) posted a selfie wearing a face mask, “No shame in wearing masks to protect yourself from viruses and bugs, which are on the rise!”

“As temperatures fall and we spend more time inside, it’s important to remember we can take steps to stay healthy: wash your hands, wear a mask, and stay home if you have symptoms.”

The push for mask mandates is happening even though face masks have already been shown to be ineffective by various studies.

A Jan. 30 review of multiple mask use studies concluded that “compared with wearing no mask in the community studies only, wearing a mask may make little to no difference in how many people caught a flu-like illness/COVID-like illness.”

An April 5 review of 2,168 studies found that the practice of wearing masks led to multiple negative health consequences.

“We found significant effects in both medical surgical and N95 masks, with a greater impact of the second,” the review said.

While 17 percent of surgical mask wearers experienced itching, 51 percent of N95 users also suffered such effects. Acne prevalence among mask users was at 38 percent and skin irritation was at 36 percent. Dizziness was found to be prevalent among 5 percent of subjects.

“Masks interfered with O2-uptake and CO2-release and compromised respiratory compensation,” the review stated.