A conservative Florida radio host who called himself “Mr. Anti-Vax” has died from covid-19.
“It’s with great sadness that WNDB and Southern Stone Communications announce the passing of Marc Bernier, who informed and entertained listeners on WNDB for over 30 years. We kindly ask that privacy is given to Marc’s family during this time of grief,” a statement read.
Three weeks before Bernier had been hospitalized, WNDB operations manager Mark McKinney spoke to the local media: “If you’ve listened to his show, you’ve heard him talk about how anti-vaccine he is on the air.”
Bernier said to one guest in December: “I’m not taking it … Are you kidding me? Mr. Anti-Vax? Jeepers.”
According to Mike Chitwood, the Volusia County Sheriff, The radio station told him that Bernier, 65, died on Saturday.
“I’m numb,” Chitwood told the Daytona Beach News-Journal. “To me, this is a death in the family.”
As the contagious Delta variant grows, Florida is confronted by a wide range of hospitalizations and fatalities led by Republicans resistant to public health mandates.
In the US, the overwhelming majority of Covid-19 hospitalizations and deaths are those who are unvaccinated.
The US has had almost 637,000 people die from Covid-19, according to Johns Hopkins University.
The deaths of conservative media icons who oppose vaccination or other public health laws continue to garner attention all over the world.
WNDB claimed Bernier “enjoyed a successful 46-year career as a radio journalist,” and many people said that while his show was conservative, he was always fair to liberals.
“He gives all sides,” said Justin Gates, a listener who became a friend. “He’s not going to bully and throw punches or do potshots or do things for ratings. That’s why he’s so popular.”
