‘I can’t please people all the time’: Ben Fogle, 47, reveals he was sent cruel messages from trolls who said they were ‘disgusted’ by him posting about getting the coronavirus vaccine
- The TV presenter received his vaccine early because his daughter Iona, 10, has epilepsy and he and his wife Marina, 40, are her carers
Ben Fogle has revealed he was sent cruel messages by trolls after he posted about having received the coronavirus vaccine.
The TV presenter, 47, took to Instagram on Sunday and shared a snap of himself getting the jab, admitting that he hates needles and the last time he had an injection he fainted.
Ben later shared a screenshot of a message he received from someone who said they were ‘disgusted’ by him ‘preaching to others’ about the vaccine.
Hurtful: Ben Fogle has revealed he was sent cruel messages by trolls after he posted about having received the coronavirus vaccine
The person wrote: ‘I am absolutely disgusted by you preaching to others & citing a vaccine passport in your recent post, in addition having a side dig at people not wanting to be vaccinated.
‘Can I remind you that the great British public do still have freedom of choice and comments like your[s] fuel the fire that causes a divide.
‘Shame on you, when you decide on a vasectomy can we rely on a pic on Instagram too, [so] you can site the pro’s of that too you f*****g k******d’.
Sharing the message on his Instagram, Ben wrote an impassioned post where he noted he ‘can’t please all people’ and pointed out the work he has done in the past on anti-malaria campaigns and pneumonia vaccines.
Vaccine: The TV presenter, 47, took to Instagram on Sunday and shared a snap of himself getting the jab, admitting that he hates needles and the last time he had an injection he fainted
Message: Ben later shared a screenshot of a message he received from someone who said they were ‘disgusted’ by him ‘preaching to others’ about the vaccine
He wrote: ‘I got a LOT of these from my last post. Instagram is a little window into me, not the ‘me’ you want to see, but the ‘real’ me. The me me. That is the beauty of Social Media. Warts and all. I’m just sharing stuff. I try to do so in a measured manner.
‘That I like marmite doesn’t me you have to like it too. That I have a vaccine doesn’t mean that you have to have one too. Free speech goes both ways and I understand that I can’t please all of the people all of the time, but remember you follow me.
‘I don’t make you. All my decisions are based on 47 years of experience. I have worked on anti malaria campaigns, highlighted pneumonia and flu vaccines after I contracted pneumonia.
‘I have made films about neglected diseases after I contracted Leishmaniasis that kills thousands every year. To take a vaccination is based on my own researched opinion (with the guidance of 4 Doctors in my family) I also have to be respectful to the people and remote communities that I spend time with.’
Response: Ben noted he ‘can’t please all people’ and pointed out the work he has done n the past on anti-malaria campaigns and pneumonia vaccines
Ben said he always takes the flu vaccine as a precaution for those he interacts with and added people shouldn’t let the ‘anger of polarised opinion’ affect their judgement.
He wrote: ‘It would be inappropriate to spend time, as I do, with vulnerable, isolated people without a vaccine. I have always taken the flu vaccine not as a precaution to me but for others)
‘I get a lot of messages from very cross people upset about a product I am endorsing or a children’s book I have written (yes really) I was driven off Twitter for my own mental well-being after my daughter and I received death threats for daring to suggest we sing happy birthday to the Queen.
‘I hope Instagram doesn’t fall to the same level. Free speech and opinion is a vital part of our democratic liberty but we mustn’t let the anger of polarised opinion mist our judgment to fair debate. This is me. Take me or leave me.
Adventurer: Ben has climbed Mount Everest, been across the Sahara desert and followed the migration of wildebeest across Africa. He wrote of how lucky the developed world is to have access to the vaccine (pictured with wife Marina and children Iona, 10 and Ludovic, 11)
‘I try to keep a positive, inspiring vibe on here always within the spirit of who I am. Blowing out someone else’s candle won’t make yours glow any brighter. Love and peace.’
When he got the vaccine, Ben said he didn’t faint this time for the Covid-19 jab and added: ‘This is another one added to my vaccine passport’.
The presenter has climbed Mount Everest, been across the Sahara desert and followed the migration of wildebeest across Africa.
He wrote of how lucky the developed world is to have access to the vaccine, saying: ‘I haven’t heard Bill Gates talking to me in my head yet (which if you think about it positively would be like having a free version of Microsoft Windows) ‘.
Ben received his vaccine early because his daughter Iona, 10, has epilepsy and he and his wife Marina, 40, are her carers.
‘Love, peace and hope Ps I wasn’t paid for this and I had mine early because my young daughter has epilepsy and we are her carers’.
Ben wrote: ‘Free speech goes both ways and I understand that I can’t please all of the people all of the time, but remember you follow me’
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