CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Drummer Pete Parada said he was dropped from his band The Offspring because he refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine for medical reasons.
“It has recently been decided that I am unsafe to be around, in the studio, and on tour,” Parada wrote.
Parada shared the news in an Instagram post Monday, saying his doctor advised him not to get the shot at this time given his medical history.
Parada said he has Guillain-Barré syndrome, an autoimmune disorder where the body attacks the nerves, and had COVID-19 more than a year ago.
“It was mild for me — so I am confident I’d be able to handle it again, but I’m not certain I’d survive another post-vaccination round of Guillain-Barré Syndrome,” Parada wrote.
Parada said he shared the news in case anyone would notice his absence during The Offspring’s upcoming tour, which kicks off Sunday in Los Angeles.
The rocker, who’s in his 40s, said he’s been battling GBS since childhood and that it’s evolved to be “progressively worse” as he ages. For him, Parada wrote, the risks associated with getting vaccinated far outweigh the benefits.
Parada holds no ill-will toward his former bandmates and wished them the best. He also mentioned he and his daughter will be releasing new music. It's uncertain whether Parada will return to the band.
The Offspring’s decision to drop Parada came as private and public sector leaders impose new protocols as the delta variant rages and COVID-19 infection rates along with hospitalizations rise again.
New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio on Tuesday announced that the city will begin requiring COVID-19 vaccination proof in order to enter indoor businesses including restaurants, gyms and entertainment venues. So far, it’s the only city in the country with such a mandate.
In Chicago, some restaurant and bar owners began requiring patrons to wear a mask, show vaccination proof or proof of a negative COVID-19 test after staff contracted the virus.
President Joe Biden urged business and government leaders to enact vaccination requirements, saying on Tuesday he would “have their backs.”
Though his reasons for not getting the shot are medical-related, Parada wrote he supports “informed consent — which necessitates choice unburdened by coercion,” echoing the concerns expressed by many who are vaccine-hesitant.
“I do not find it ethical or wise to allow those with the most power (government, corporations, organizations, employers) to dictate medical procedures to those with the least power,” Parada wrote.
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