Idris Elba Says He Was Not Paid To Say He Contracted COVID-19; Calls It Bullshit

During a recent Instagram Live video, "Cats" star Idris Elba slammed a conspiracy theory accusing people of being paid to say they tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

The 47-year-old actor, who was diagnosed two weeks ago, has been in isolation with his wife Sabrina, 29, who revealed she'd contracted the virus in recent days.

According to the actor, the conspiracy theory claims celebrities are getting paid by the government to announce that they've tested positive for the virus.

And as he faced questions as to how he was able to acquire a COVID-19 test when so many others showing symptoms were denied access to one, the Luther star took to Instagram Live on to set the record straight. 

He said: 'It shouldn’t be about whether the rich or poor gets it. Everyone should be able to get a test, for sure. I think the negativity around test-shaming is counterproductive. I don’t see what people get out of that.'

"This idea that someone like myself is gonna be paid to say I've got coronavirus? That's absolute bulls---," Elba said during the video. "Such stupidness. People wanna spread that as if it's news."

"That's stupid. It's the quickest way to get people sick," he added. "It’s no benefit to me and Sabrina saying that we got it and we ain’t got it. I don’t understand the logic of that."

The actor reminded his viewers that the ongoing crisis is 'not a movie'

"I'm not an actor right now. I'm just a human being and I just happen to be in the public eye," Elba said, adding, "So I want people to understand that this is very real. I feel like I saved people from getting it by doing that test early." 

Elba's impassioned response came after rapper Cardi B seemingly spoke up in favor of the conspiracy theory during an Instagram live of her own this past weekend. 

While speaking about the coronavirus, the outspoken "Money" rapper demanded more action from the government. 

"While we're quarantining at home, what is the government doing? Is y'all spraying s--- in the streets? Is y'all gonna start taking our temperatures?" Cardi said about the government's response to the coronavirus. "How am I supposed to know I have the coronavirus?"

The rapper went on to say she suspected people were being paid to say they had it, adding, "If y'all are… pay me too."

Elba is not the only celebrity to have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, and more have all spoken out about testing positive, encouraging people to social distance and wash their hands. Most recently, Elba's wife Sabrina Dhowre Elba also said she tested positive.

One fan changed the subject and asked him about the possibility of him playing James Bond, to which he replied: 'It' s a rumour. I am not going to get it definitely. It is just the biggest rumour in the world!'

Elba said: 'One of the upsides of this whole drama is that we are forced to think together as a race.