Brian Kilmeade accidentally reveals the cruel implications of Fox's coronavirus coverage

Written by Bobby Lewis

Published

An awkward April 30 exchange between Fox & Friends co-hosts Brian Kilmeade and Ainsley Earhardt revealed the cruel implications of Fox News’ coronavirus coverage agitating for states to “reopen” the economy despite the pandemic.

During a discussion about California closing beaches due to social distancing violations, Earhardt expressed genuine worry for her sick mother contracting COVID-19 from people failing to take social distancing seriously. Kilmeade, angry about the beach closures, indignantly interrupted her, asking, “But is your mom going to the beach?”

From the April 30, 2020, edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends

AINSLEY EARHARDT (CO-HOST): Well, you know, that beach was open, and people could make the decisions. The problem is, though, Brian, they started to see more people going to the hospitals after that weekend — after all those images were released, in California, with corona. So, I think the governors have to make tough decisions because they don't want a relapse of all of this. That wouldn't make them look good. Their residents would be dying. And then you have, you know, people like — my mom is very sick. And as much as I want to go out, and I want — I still want everyone to play by the rules because when I finally do get to go home to visit her, I don't want —

BRIAN KILMEADE (CO-HOST): But is your mom going to the beach? But is your mom going to the beach?

EARHARDT: No, but Brian, you know, eventually she's going to be around family again. I understand both sides, I really do. I just don't want a resurgence of this. You know, I just don't want us to go through all of this. It's been — it's been hard for everyone at different levels.

Although Earhardt has her own record of ridiculous and dangerous takes on the coronavirus pandemic, this exchange lays bare the inherent cruelty of Fox’s campaign to “reopen” the economy: The demands of a few seem to outweigh the lives of the vulnerable. 

People like Earhardt’s mother don’t have to violate social distancing guidelines themselves in order to contract the virus. Vulnerable populations are put in danger by other people violating social distancing and potentially spreading COVID-19 undetected. But Kilmeade either doesn’t understand or perhaps he doesn’t care -- he just wants the freedom to catch some rays, no matter the cost to others.