Source: WENN / WENN
COVID-19, the novel coronavirus has affected the lives of millions of citizens across the country and the globe. It’s also impacting the lives of celebrities.
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson were the first celebrities to be diagnosed with the coronavirus in March of 2020. Chet Hanks, son of Tom & Rita came out to social media shortly after the announcement of his parents to give their fans an update on his family’s health. Chet assures us that his parents are in high spirits and are doing just fine.
Following the Hanks’ news was the NBA suspending the season indefinitely due to two players on the Utah Jazz getting the coronavirus, center Rudy Gobert and guard Donovan Mitchell. On Monday, March 16 – actor Idris Elba revealed that he had been diagnosed with coronavirus, days after NBA player Christian Wood had tested positive for COVID-19 and on Tuesday, four players of the Brooklyn Nets had confirmed positive tests – including Kevin Durant. Since then, Mitchell, Wood, and Gobert have all been cleared of COVID-19.
On March 24, Slim Thug shocked the Houston community and hip-hop world at large when he revealed he tested positive for coronavirus. Two days later, Scarface revealed his diagnosis. On March 27, ESPN announcer Doris Burke revealed she had tested positive for COVID-19 and was recovering.
In the months (and now years) that have followed, a number of individuals from both the celebrity, sports and political spectrum have tested positive with the virus. Here is the official list of celebs that currently have been diagnosed with coronavirus.
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Celebrities Who’ve Been Diagnosed With Or Passed From COVID-19 [UPDATED OCTOBER 18] was originally published on rnbphilly.com
1. Colin Powell
Source:WENN
On Monday (October 18), Colin Powell’s family released a statement announcing his passing from COVID complications. He was 84.
2. Chris Rock
Source:Getty
On Sunday (September 19), comedian and actor Chris Rock revealed he tested positive for COVID on Twitter and urged people to get vaccinated.
“Hey guys I just found out I have COVID, trust me you don’t want this. Get vaccinated.”
3. Nas
Source:@PhotosByBeanz83
In a recent interview with EBONY, Nas revealed he tested positive with COVID-19 in October 2020.
“I caught COVID in late October,” Nas said. “This is the first time [I’m] mentioning it. It was a tough time. It was mentally and physically hard. It’s just today’s world, with chemical warfare, crazy politics, racism, food shortages, police malpractice, Black-on-Black murder. The human spirit is being tested. I think that God has a plan for all of this. But right now, we’re in a serious time.”
4. Wendy Williams
Source:lifetime
On Wednesday (September 15), Wendy Williams revealed she tested positive for a “breakthrough case” of COVID-19.
The debut of the 13th season of The Wendy Williams Show has been delayed until October due to the positive test.
5. Nicki Minaj
Source:Getty
On Monday (September 13), Nicki Minaj revealed she had COVID in a response to a fan asking why was she not at the 2021 MTV VMAs.
“Love u babe,” she tweeted. “I was prepping for vmas then i shot a video & guess who got COVID? Do u know what it is not to be able to kiss or hold your tiny baby for over a week? A baby who is only used to his mama? “get vaccinated” Drake had just told me he got covid w|THE VACCINE tho so chile.”
When asked about whether she’d get vaccinated, the Pinkprint rapper offered a rather – personal story.
“They want you to get vaccinated for the Met. if I get vaccinated it won’t for the Met. It’ll be once I feel I’ve done enough research,” she wrote. “I’m working on that now. In the meantime my loves, be safe. Wear the mask with 2 strings that grips your head & face. Not that loose one.
“My cousin in Trinidad won’t get the vaccine cuz his friend got it & became impotent,” she added. “His testicles became swollen. His friend was weeks away from getting married, now the girl called off the wedding. So just pray on it & make sure you’re comfortable with ur decision, not bullied.”
6. Sonny Chiba
Source:Getty
Sonny Chiba, the beloved martial arts star who starred in movies such as The Street Fighter and Kill Bill, died from COVID-19 complications. He was 82.
7. Drake
Source:(Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)
Drake’s revelation he had COVID-19 at one point came in the most Drake way possible, him explaining why his now trademark “heart” part in his hair was messed up.
On Instagram, he responded to one fan writing, “I had COVID, that sh*t grew in weird I had to start again. It’s coming back don’t diss.”
8. Jim Jones
Source:Bernard Beanz Smalls,
On August 16, Dipset member Jim Jones revealed he tested positive for COVID-19, although he didn’t specify when he began battling the virus. He only urged fans to get tested and stay safe and not be in crowded places.
“Super man is no match for covid,” he captioned his post. “Please take care of urself out here mask up hand sanitizer keep tht wit u and say a prayer cause this sh*t is like a stray bullet it don’t care who it hits.”
Watch his video here.
9. DJ Khaled
Source:Getty
On August 12, DJ Khaled revealed he and his entire family had COVID-19 but they thankfully recovered.
“Thank you for your calls and prayers,” he wrote on Instagram. “My family and I recovered from COVID and we’re all good now!! God is the greatest! God loves us and we love God! “
See his message here.
10. OJ Simpson
Source:Getty
In 2020, OJ Simpson battled COVID-19 and in a recent interview with TMZ, the 74-year-old said he struggled mightily with the virus.
“When I had COVID, I almost couldn’t get out of bed,” Simpson said in a lengthy interview. “I made it to my balcony, trying to breathe. I couldn’t catch my breath. I felt vulnerable and for the first time thought I might be near the end.”
11. Kelly Price
Source:Getty
Kelly Price shared on her Instagram page that she has tested positive for COVID-19 and had to cancel her latest performance dates on July 29.
12. Amamda Nunes
Source:Getty
UFC Featherweight and Bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes is out of UFC 265 in Houston next month.
Nunes, the top pound-for-pound fighter in the sport, tested positive for COVID-19 according to ESPN, canceling her August 7 bout with Julianna Peña for her bantamweight title.
13. Lamar Jackson
Source:Getty
According to ESPN, the 2019 NFL MVP tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the week and was absent from the Ravens’ opening day of training camp. Jackson tested positive on Tuesday (July 27) after testing negative in previous days.
This is Jackson’s second battle with COVID-19. He tested positive in November 2020 and missed one game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was among 20 Ravens players who tested positive following an outbreak of the virus during the 2020 NFL season. At least one Ravens player tested positive for 10 consecutive days.
14. Coco Gauff
Source:Getty
The young tennis prodigy announced on Sunday (July 18) she tested positive for COVID-19 and would miss the Tokyo Olympics.
“I am so disappointed to share the news that I have tested positive for COVID and won’t be able to play in the Olympic Games in Tokyo,” Gauff wrote. “It has always been a dream of mine to represent the USA at the Olympics, and I hope there will be many more chances for me to make this come true in the future. I want to wish TEAM USA best of luck and a safe games for every Olympian and the entire Olympic family.”
15. Jay Williams
Source:Getty
On Friday (July 16), former NBA player and current ESPN analyst Jay Williams revealed he had tested positive for COVID-19 despite being vaccinated. The news pulled him off NBA coverage for the remainder of the NBA Finals.
“This is a great reminder … that we have to continue to be as diligent as possible,” he said in a video he shared to social media.
16. Wiz Khalifa
Source:Getty
Wiz Khalifa revealed his positive test on Twitter on July 14, writing to fans, “Okay loved ones….sooo…..Ya boy got covid. No symptoms. Just stay away from me for a lil while.”
17. Nick Cannon
Source:Getty
Cannon tested positive earlier this week, prompting The Masked Singer to temporarily replace him with Niecy Nash until he recovers.
18. Michael Strahan
Source:WENN
Former Texas Southern University great and Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan tested positive for COVID-19 and has been of GMA for a week. Per TMZ, he was in contact with someone who tested positive on Saturday (January 23) and took precautions in quarantining. He’s not experiencing any symptoms and will do ‘GMA’ remotely until he tests negative.
19. Dave Chappelle
Source:WENN
On January 21, TMZ reported Chappelle had tested positive for COVID-19 and was quarantining. The comedian had been performing numerous shows in Austin, Texas alongside Joe Rogan and announced those shows would be canceled and a refund would be issued.
20. Ashanti
Source:PrettyLittleThing.com
On Saturday (December 12), Ashanti revealed she tested positive for COVID-19, prompting the postponement of her VERZUZ celebration with Keyshia Cole.
21. Charley Pride
Source:Getty
Charley Pride, country music’s first Black superstar, passed away on Saturday, December 12 from COVID-19 complications in Dallas. He was 86.
22. Carol Sutton
Source:Getty
On Thursday (December 10), actress Carol Sutton passed away from COVID-19 complications. She was 76.
23. Tommy “Tiny” Lister
Source:Getty
Tommy “Tiny” Lister passed away on Thursday, December 11. Although his official cause of death has yet to determined, the 62-year-old character actor best known for playing “Deebo” in Friday had battled COVID-19 and still had lingering symptoms.
24. Ben Carson
Source:Getty
On November 9, ABC News revealed that Ben Carson had tested positive for COVID-19, the latest in a wide number of White House officials who’ve contracted the virus.
His deputy chief of staff says he’s “in good spirits & feels fortunate to have access to effective therapeutics which aid and markedly speed his recovery.” Carson attended the election night party at the White House.
25. Trey Songz
Source:@PhotosByBeanz
On October 5, Songz shared he tested positive and would be quarantined at home until he saw signs his health was improving and he continually had negative tests.
26. Cam Newton
Source:Getty
On Saturday (October 3), ESPN insider Adam Schefter revealed that Patriots quarterback Cam Newton tested positive for COVID-19 and would be out for the Pats upcoming game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
27. Donald Trump
Source:Getty
On October 1, U.S. President Donald Trump became the most noted individual to test positive for COVID-19, including his wife, First Lady Melania Trump. Since his positive test, White House advisor Hope Hicks, former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, Kellyanne Conway and a number of U.S. Senators have tested positive.
In total, 25 people related to Trump and White House events have tested positive in the last two days.
28. Vivica A. Fox
Source:Getty
Fox missed the E! pre-show telecast of the Emmys after it was revealed she was quarantining due to contracting COVID-19.
29. Tiffany Haddish
Source:TV One
The actress and comedian revealed she had tested positive for COVID-19 during a conversation with Dr. Anthony Faucci on her YouTube channel.
30. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
Source:WENN
On Sept. 2, The Rock revealed that not only did he test positive for COVID-19 but so did his wife and two daughters.
31. Kevin Hart
Source:NBC Universal
Kevin Hart revealed that he tested positive for COVID-19 “around the same time” as Tom Hanks did back in March.
32. Usain Bolt
Source:Getty
Usain Bolt, the multi-time Olympic gold medalist and world-record holder, tested positive after throwing a massive 34th birthday party in his native Jamaica.
33. Peter Thomas
Source:Getty
The former Real Housewives of Atlanta star revealed his battle with COVID-19 on August 4.
34. Herman Cain
Source:Getty
Herman Cain, the former Presidential candidate who was diagnosed with COVID-19 days after attending a Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma – died of COVID-19 complications on July 30. He was 74.
35. Doja Cat
Source:Radio One Digital
In a July 24 interview with Capital XTRA in the UK, Doja Cat revealed she had been battling COVID-19, months after initially calling the pandemic a flu.
36. Keisha Lance Bottoms
Source:Getty
On Monday (July 6), Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms revealed she had tested positive for COVID-19.
37. Just Brittany
The Houston rapper revealed on Monday (June 15) that she tested positive for COVID-19.
“I’m so scared. I have to stay in the house and self quarantine,” she wrote on Instagram. “I feel fine but my results came back positive. I’m in the house for the next 14 days. Please be careful, wear your mask, wash your hands, and stay inside.”
38. Ezekiel Elliott
Source:Getty
On June 15, NFL insider Ian Rapoport revealed that Elliott was among several NFL players who had tested positive for COVID-19.
39. Patrick Ewing
Source:Getty
On May 22, NBA legend and head coach of the Georgetown Hoyas Patrick Ewing revealed he tested positive for COVID-19.
40. Annie Glenn
Source:Getty
Glenn, the widow of astronaut John Glenn, passed away from coronavirus complications at age 100.
41. Roy Horn
Source:Getty
On Friday (May 8), Roy Horn died at age 75 due to complications from COVID-19.
42. Madonna
Source:Getty
Madonna shared that she had been diagnosed with COVID-19 following her Madame X Tour dates in Paris. She recently tested positive for antibodies.
43. Fat Trel
Source:The Washington Post / Getty
On April 29, Fat Trel revealed he had been diagnosed with COVID-19 while incarcerated in Washington D.C.
44. Erica Telfair & Dan Turner
Source:Alex Goodlett / Getty
On Tuesday (April 28), former NBA guard Sebastian Telfair revealed that his mother, Erica Telfair and his brother, Dan Turner had passed away due to COVID-19 complications in New York.
45. Fred The Godson
Source:Johnny Nunez / Getty
On April 23, Fred The Godson became the first hip-hop artist to pass away due to COVID-19 complications. The rapper was diagnosed with the virus on April 7th and had to rely on a ventilator during much of his hospital stay.
46. Todd McShay
The ESPN NFL Draft guru revealed early Thursday that he was missing from ESPN’s coverage of the draft as he dealt with coronavirus.
47. Von Miller
Source:Getty
Von Miller, the Super Bowl 50 MVP tested positive according to his agent, Joby Branion. He says he’s in “good spirits”. He’s the most prominent figure in the NFL to have tested positive for the virus.
48. Jacqueline Towns, Mother Of Karl-Anthony Towns
Source:Hannah Foslien / Getty
COVID-19 struck the basketball world one month ago today and now, it has tragically affected one of the league’s best young players. Minnesota Timberwolves’ center Karl-Anthony Towns‘ mother, Jacqueline Towns has passed away.
49. Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds
Source:Getty
On his 62nd birthday, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds made a shocking revelation – he and his family were infected with COVID-19.
“I feel so blessed to be able to celebrate another birthday,” he wrote in a statement posted to Twitter. “I tested positive for the Covid19 virus, as did my family. It’s an incredibly scary thing to go through my friends.”
The legendary singer/songwriter did not give an immediate timetable to his diagnosis but did say that he and his family no longer positive for the virus which has ravaged the world. “I’m happy to report we have now tested negative and are on our way back to full health.”
50. Rudy Gobert
51. Westside Gunn
52. ‘Power’ Actress Debbie Mazar
53. Tom Hanks
54. Rita Wilson
55. Donovan Mitchell
56. Christian Wood
57. Lucian Grange
58. Idris Elba
59. Kristofer Hivju
60. Kevin Durant
61. Sean Payton
62. Daniel Dae Kim
63. Andy Cohen
64. Sabrina Dhowre
65. Marcus Smart
66. Slim Thug
Slim Thug revealed his positive COVID-19 test on March 24, 2020.
67. Prince Charles
Source:WENN
Prince Charles confirmed he had tested positive for coronavirus on March 25th, 2020.
68. Scarface
On Willie D’s YouTube channel, Scarface revealed that he tested positive for coronavirus on March 26, 2020.
69. Doris Burke
Burke announced she had been diagnosed with COVID-19 and is now symptom free.
70. Michael Yo
71. Chris Cuomo
72. Brooke Baldwin
Source:WENN
Brooke Baldwin revealed her diagnosis with COVID-19 on April 3, 2020