The president of the Gimbe Foundation at the center of the storm for a tweet («As long as idiots are boom»): «The singer’s positions are in contrast with my role as a doctor and with science. I wish him to negativize himself soon “
“I used the phrases of a song and I ended up under attack ». Nino Cartabellotta has been at the center of the controversy for a tweet (“As long as the jerks do (huh) As long as idiots do (ah) As long as idiots do “boom” #Povia “) published after the news of positivity of the singer Giuseppe Povia. The next day, the president of the Gimbe Foundation (independent institute that since the beginning of the pandemic has provided weekly reports on the contagion data) does not back down. Rather, I was subjected to violent attacks. I received insults and threats: I have already reported everything to the postal police ».
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But how did you come up with the idea of paraphrasing that song? Did he want to mock Povia?
“I haven’t paraphrased anything at all. The verse on idiots was written by Povia, it is part of one of his songs. It is not the chorus that is best known, but if you read the full text you understand that I have only done copy and paste. It is a great misunderstanding and I am sorry that so many have fallen for it, attributing the authorship of the sentence to myself ».
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So why use that phrase right after Povia announced her positivity? Did he want to make fun of the contagion of a well-known person who took to street demonstrations?
“I didn’t call him an idiot, much less wished him to boom, I just quoted his words.”
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Don’t you think that there are codes of opportunity for doctors and scientists? In short, isn’t it better that on social media you stay in your field?
“There is a communication war on pandemic and vaccines. Anyone who advocates unscientific theses has the right to speak everywhere, using all arguments and all tones. In this climate it is difficult to fight disinformation and anti-vaccination only with scientific evidence and official numbers. Today there are still almost 6.4 million unvaccinated people in Italy: we must persuade them to immunize themselves by following unconventional routes. On social media, for example, I invite people to contact me in private to answer their doubts and fears about vaccination “.
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Povia says he is against the green pass, not denying the virus.
“His no-vax positions are clear and obvious. And in stark contrast to my role as a person called to provide scientific information and counteract disinformation. He said he is fine and has a low viral load, I wish him to be negativized soon. And, as a doctor, I recommend the booster dose when the time comes. ”
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Did you expect this level of controversy when you wrote the tweet?
“No. But above all, I did not expect attacks from the “usual suspects”. Which have generated a flood of insults, up to death threats, already reported to the postal police ».
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December 14, 2021 (change December 14, 2021 | 17:34)
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