'Have some respect!' Pete Evans is slammed for his shameful comments downplaying the COVID-19 pandemic
Anti-vaxxer and conspiracy theorist Pete Evans has sparked backlash for downplaying the seriousness of COVID-19, which has killed more than 500,000 people worldwide.
On Monday, the former My Kitchen Rules judge implied the pandemic wasn't a real threat and that the mainstream media was simply exaggerating it.
He posted a meme that showed a T-Rex from the film Jurassic Park along with the caption 'covid according to the media'. This was contrasted with an image of Barney the Dinosaur, which was captioned 'covid in real life'.
![Shameful: Anti-vaxxer and conspiracy theorist Pete Evans (pictured) has sparked backlash for downplaying the seriousness of COVID-19, which has killed more than 500,000 worldwide](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/06/30/02/30205392-8473029-image-a-8_1593481019331.jpg)
Shameful: Anti-vaxxer and conspiracy theorist Pete Evans (pictured) has sparked backlash for downplaying the seriousness of COVID-19, which has killed more than 500,000 worldwide
The post received immediate backlash, with one person commenting: 'Thousands of people have died - have some respect.'
'I don't know if people who have lost loved ones to covid would think this,' wrote another.
'Really I think this post is a bit unreasonable,' a third added.
![Incorrect: On Monday, the former My Kitchen Rules judge shared this meme implying the pandemic wasn't a real threat and that the mainstream media was simply exaggerating it](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/06/30/02/30206226-8473029-image-m-10_1593481229780.jpg)
Incorrect: On Monday, the former My Kitchen Rules judge shared this meme implying the pandemic wasn't a real threat and that the mainstream media was simply exaggerating it
One follower said that Pete's perception of the pandemic may be due to the fact he lives in Australia, where the crisis has been less severe than other countries.
'I do agree with this on premise, however I do wonder if our perception is different because in Australia we have controlled it so significantly,' they wrote.
'I wonder if it would be different if we saw our hospitals overrun and our grandparents dying on mass like in Italy?'
In addition to his post, Pete also shared several memes to his Instagram Stories that questioned the scientific facts of the coronavirus pandemic.
!['Are you paying attention yet?' In addition to his post, Pete also shared several memes to his Instagram Stories that questioned the scientific facts of the coronavirus pandemic](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/06/30/02/30206228-8473029-image-m-14_1593481357040.jpg)
'Are you paying attention yet?' In addition to his post, Pete also shared several memes to his Instagram Stories that questioned the scientific facts of the coronavirus pandemic
The World Health Organization officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11.
About 3.4 per cent of people diagnosed with coronavirus have died, compared to less than one per cent of seasonal flu cases.
There have been more than 7,760 confirmed cases of the virus in Australia, including 104 deaths.
Globally, there are more than 10 million confirmed cases and over 500,000 deaths.
Pete's latest posts come after he made headlines for suggesting he was immune to COVID-19.
He made the bizarre claim during his interview with Liz Hayes on 60 Minutes - but his statements were edited out of the version that went to air.
![Bizarre: Pete's latest posts come after he made headlines for suggesting he was immune to COVID-19 during an interview on 60 Minutes (pictured above)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/06/30/02/30206180-8473029-image-a-13_1593481324731.jpg)
Bizarre: Pete's latest posts come after he made headlines for suggesting he was immune to COVID-19 during an interview on 60 Minutes (pictured above)
In the full interview, uploaded to his YouTube account, Pete said: 'We know there's a flu that goes around, whatever strain or mutation or whatever that is, who knows? I've never had a flu vaccine because I'm not concerned about catching a flu.'
He added: 'And am I fearful of COVID-19, if I came into contact with anybody [who has it]? No I'm not, because I believe in who I am and my ability to stay as healthy as I can through anything.'
During his interview, Pete also revealed he was skeptical of whether the spread of coronavirus actually constituted a pandemic.
'There seems to be more and more information that comes out that is conflicting,' he said, attempting to justify his conspiracy theory.
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