Omicron, Russia, Meat Loaf: Your Friday Evening Briefing
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- The U.S. is seeing hints of optimism as the Omicron surge begins to ease.
Jeffrey Zients, who heads President Biden’s coronavirus response team, said the nation was “moving toward a time when Covid won’t disrupt our daily lives, where Covid won’t be a constant crisis but something we protect against and treat.”
His remarks came with the national coronavirus caseload on a slight downward trajectory, largely because of declines in major cities in the hard-hit Northeast. Still, the coronavirus caseload in the U.S. remains far higher than at any prior point in the pandemic. Hospitalizations have plateaued in some parts of the U.S., while a crisis continues in others.
Inside Meat Loaf’s peculiar feud with Greta Thunberg before tragic Covid death
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Meat Loaf - real name Marvin Lee Aday - passed away on Thursday night aged 74 but in the years before he died, the Bat Out Of Hell hitmaker took a pop at environmental activist Greta Thunberg
Meat Loaf had a curious poke at eco-warrior Greta Thunberg before his death and told the activist to do something else with her time.
The tragic singing superstar, whose death was announced on Friday, said in a controversial interview that he does not believe in climate change.
He accused then schoolgirl Greta of being “brainwashed” - saying that the world isn’t in trouble.
He suggested the teen’s time would be better spent on something other than working to reverse climate change.
In 2020, Meat - real name Marvin Lee Aday - told the MailOnline: “I feel for that Greta. She has been brainwashed into thinking that there is climate change and there isn’t.
Image: Getty Images) Getty Images) Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock) Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
“She hasn’t done anything wrong but she’s been forced into thinking that what she is saying is true.”
The teenage environmental activist, who has become a figurehead for the global environmental movement, responded to him on Twitter.
Greta refused to slam the star but made her point that doubters such as Meat could not deny “facts”.
“It’s not about Meatloaf. It’s not about me. It’s not about what some people call me. It’s not about left or right,” she tweeted.
Image: Getty Images) Getty Images)
“It’s all about scientific facts. And that we’re not aware of the situation. Unless we start to focus everything on this, our targets will soon be out of reach.”
Fans are still coming to terms with the news of the singer’s death.
Before he died, Meat Loaf said he was “scared to death of Covid” and said he would not be “controlled” by the deadly virus.
The 74-year-old passed away on Thursday night, surrounded by his wife Deborah and his children Pearl and Amanda.
Image: Getty Images) Getty Images)
He reportedly died after contracting the virus and was forced to cancel a business dinner earlier this week after falling “seriously ill”.
It is unknown whether Meat Loaf had been vaccinated, but he did declare: “If I die, I die - I’m not going to be controlled” when previously talking about the illness in an interview.
Speaking to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about coronavirus, the rock star said: “Oh, I’m scared to death! You kidding me? But I’m sorry, I understood stopping life for a little while, but they cannot continue to stop life because of politics. And right now they’re stopping because of politics.
“And on CNN last night, it finally came out that the masks we’re all wearing are useless. But I’ve known that for six months. They don’t do anything. They don’t stop you from getting Covid.
“They’re just a nuisance and make your nose itch and make it so you can’t breathe.”
Meat Loaf, perfect cure for Covid silliness
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Weber barbeque apologises for poorly timed meatloaf recipe after musician’s death
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Popular barbeque brand Weber has apologised after sending customers a meatloaf recipe just hours after musician Meat Loaf died.
The poorly timed recipe was emailed to recipients around the world as part of the company’s weekly Friday newsletter.
But unbeknownst to the grilling giant, Mr Marvin Lee Aday, 74, died on Thursday night in Nashville, Tennessee, after reportedly falling seriously ill with Covid-19.
‘In today’s email we highlighted a grilled meatloaf recipe. At the time we shared this recipe with you, we were not aware of the unfortunate passing of American singer and actor Mr Marvin Lee Aday, also known as Meat Loaf,’ Weber wrote to subscribers on Friday.
‘We want to express our deepest apologies for this oversight and for any offense this email may have caused.
Mr Marvin Lee Aday (pictured), 74, also known as Meat Loaf, died on Thursday night after falling ill with Covid-19
Popular barbeque brand issued a meatloaf recipe to subscribers on Friday morning unaware of the celebrity’s death
‘We send our condolences to Mr Aday’s family and fans. Thank you for understanding.’
Fans of the American manufacturer, which supplies grills to more than 60 countries globally including Australia, France, and China, flocked to Twitter to share photos of the apology.
But the gaffe amused cooking enthusiasts, many saying anyone who was offend by the coincidental oversight was extremely sensitive.
‘Sorry, but this is the greatest junk mail I have ever seen,’ one wrote.
‘Trying not to laugh,’ another added.
‘Come on people, this is funny stuff. Unintentional, but I’d like to think Meatloaf would have laughed,’ a third wrote.
‘I kinda feel like Meat Loaf would appreciate the delicious irony of Weber’s inadvertently ill-timed grilled meat loaf post,’ a fourth wrote.
‘Clearly it was the most unintentional of errors and anyone legitimately offended by it has to grow up and face the dark humor of our mortality.
Six hours later, the company issued an apology via email to its subscribers for the poorly-timed recipe for how to prepare BBQ Meat Loaf (pictured)
Sorry, but this is the greatest junk e-mail I’ve ever received. pic.twitter.com/bBlDKvtYXM — Sam Shaw (@shawsam) January 21, 2022
The company offered its condolences to the rock singer’s friends and fans
Others said the blunder highlighted the issues associated with auto-scheduled emails.
‘I’m laughing my a**e off thinking about the poor Weber PR team having to have emergency meetings because Meatloaf died,’ one wrote.
The rock singer death on Thursday was announced at 6pm the following day via his verified Facebook page.
‘Our hearts are broken to announce that the incomparable Meat Loaf passed away tonight with his wife Deborah by his side,’ the statement said.
‘We know how much he meant to so many of you and we truly appreciate all of the love and support as we move through this time of grief in losing such an inspiring artist and beautiful man.
‘We thank you for your understanding of our need for privacy at this time.
‘From his heart to your souls… don’t ever stop rocking!’
Meat Loaf’s family and representatives have so far not confirmed either his cause of death or his vaccination status, but TMZ cited sources saying that he was ‘seriously ill with Covid’ when he died.
Cry January! The many great stars who have died in the first month of 2022
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January 2022 has dealt a sad blow to pop culture as legendary actors, singers and sports greats all died within weeks.
The world lost some of its brightest stars — including historic Oscar winner Sidney Poitier, beloved funnyman Bob Saget and acclaimed rocker Meat Loaf — on the heels of “Golden Girls” actress Betty White’s death in late December.
The first heartbreak came on New Year’s Day, when former New York Giants coach and NFL running back Dan Reeves died at his Atlanta home from complications of dementia. The 77-year-old gridiron great had appeared in nine Super Bowls as a player and coach throughout his career.
Tragedy struck again when Poitier — the first black actor ever to win an Oscar, for his role in “Lilies of the Field” — died at his home in Los Angeles on Jan. 6. The 94-year-old, who also starred in “In the Heat of the Night” and “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,” succumbed to heart failure.
Comedian Bob Saget died tragically at the young age of 65. He was found in his hotel room in Orlando with no signs of foul play. Getty Images
The Oscar-nominated filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich, famous for the 1977 dramatic comedy “Paper Moon,” died the same day from natural causes. He was 82.
On Jan. 9, comedic actor and stand-up comic Bob Saget — beloved for his role as the wholesome dad on the ’90s sitcom “Full House” — was found dead in his hotel room in Orlando at age 65 with no sign of foul play. Fellow actors mourned his death as a massive blow to comedy.
Next came Ronnie Spector, the soulful vocalist and teenage ingenue behind the 1960s girl group the Ronettes, who died on Jan. 12 at age 78. The music industry darling — who belted out 1960s hits including “Be My Baby” and “Walking in the Rain” — lived her life with a “spunky attitude” and a “wicked sense of humor,” her family said in a statement.
Louie Anderson was another beloved comedian lost in January. He died in a hospital in Las Vegas after a battle with cancer. Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP
On Jan. 17, fashion genius André Leon Talley, who served as Vogue’s creative director and editor-at-large, died due to an unknown illness, sources said. He was 73.
Three days later, the rock legend Meat Loaf died after becoming “seriously ill” with COVID-19. It wasn’t immediately clear if the 74-year-old “Bat Out of Hell” singer, who was reportedly an outspoken opponent of vaccine mandates, had been vaccinated.
Fans of comedy were heartbroken again on Jan. 21 when the Emmy Award-winning comedian Louie Anderson died at a Las Vegas hospital after a battle with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, a version of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Rock music legend Meat Loaf died at 74 years old after becoming seriously ill with COVID-19. Redferns
The “Coming to America” star, who won recent acclaim for his hilarious role as Christine Baskets in FX’s “Baskets,” was 68.
Other celebrities, including the South Korean actress Kim Mi-soo and Broadway star Joan Copeland, also died this month.