Miami, FL – Luke Campbell, better known as Uncle Luke, is one of Hip Hop’s biggest pioneers in regards to defending free speech and highlighting Miami as a music capital. Now, he’s tested positive for COVID-19.
In an op-ed written for the Miami New Times on Wednesday (December 16), the 2 Live Crew leader explained how he joined “more than one million Floridians” who’ve been diagnosed with coronavirus, due mainly to peer pressure from a longtime friend.
“Last month, a friend celebrating his birthday at a local strip club would not stop blowing up my phone,” Luke wrote. “He kept begging me to come. I told myself I would go for 15 minutes and duck out. As soon as I walked through the doors, it was like stepping into a coronavirus-spreading chamber.”
He added, “Everybody was wildin’ out and getting drunk. Almost no one was wearing masks. My buddies were all up in my face. Patrons and strippers were walking up to me and asking to take selfies. Of course, I obliged when they asked me to take my mask off. Even though I felt like everyone in the club was an asymptomatic carrier, I stayed late.”
Luke then later detailed how he went through a wide number of coronavirus related symptoms such as a dry cough, a fever and a loss of his sense of smell as well as taste. He took two rapid COVID-19 tests, both of which came back positive. Throughout the pandemic, Luke has been critical of government officials in Florida for their handling of the pandemic, which has claimed over 20,000 lives in the state since March.
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In his letter, Luke didn’t urge for a full shutdown of nonessential businesses but did plea for people to bear personal responsibility for the health of others while they’re out and about.
“If you go out, put your mask on when you are not drinking or eating,” he said. “You don’t have to be all up on each other, either. You can still hang out at a six-foot distance from each other. And if the establishment has too many people not following the protocols, don’t be afraid to go home and call it a night.”
As the United States continues to set new grim milestones in regards to the number of cases and deaths with the COVID-19 pandemic, those who’ve recovered from the virus are still highlighting the aftermath. Recently, Jeremih opened up about his ordeal with COVID-19, stating how he nearly died from the virus while suffering kidney failure, inflamed organs and other serious ailments.