A conservative talk show host who shared skepticism over the COVID-19 vaccines and disagreed with mask mandates has died from COVID-19.
Phil Valentine, 61, was diagnosed with the virus last month, and it was announced on Saturday that the longtime Nashville area radio host had passed away from complications with the virus.
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Valentine's first show went on-air in 1955 and was syndicated to several cities across the county. When he was diagnosed with the virus last month, he confirmed that he had it in a Facebook post on July 11, WTVF reported.
Before falling ill, Valentine had shared his thoughts against the vaccine. In December of 2020, he tweeted, "I have a very low risk of A) Getting COVID and B) dying of it if I do. Why would I risk getting a heart attack or paralysis by getting the vaccine?"
Valentine described his battle with the coronavirus as an "interesting experience," saying he would let his listeners know about it when he returned to broadcasting.
"I'm hoping that will be tomorrow, but I may take a day off just as a precaution. It'll be a game time decision," he wrote in the post.
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After a few weeks, Valentine's station shared a post from his family that his condition had worsened.
"Phil contracted the Covid virus a little over a week ago & has since been hospitalized & is in very serious condition, suffering from Covid Pneumonia and the attendant side effects," the post said. "He is in the hospital in the critical care unit breathing with assistance but is NOT on a ventilator. We'd ask that everyone please refrain from contacting him while he is in the hospital."
The post closed with his family urging people to get vaccinated following his fight with the virus.
It read, "Please continue to pray for his recovery and PLEASE GO GET VACCINATED!"
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When his conditioned worsened, his brother, Mike Valentine, went on the radio to talk about his brother's condition. Mike shared that his brother was "regretful that he wasn't a more vocal advocate of the vaccination," The Associated Press reported. "For those listening, I know if he were able to tell you this, he would tell you, 'Go get vaccinated. Quit worrying about the politics. Quit worrying about all the conspiracy theories.'"