The controversial TikTok showcased Maiolo in front of a news channel reporting on David Espino being hospitalized with the virus. His mother regretted not having the 17-year-old vaccinated sooner as the severe illness could have been prevented.
Jessica Maiolo did not show any sympathy for the sick patient and went on to make “fatphobic” and “anti- vax” statements online:
“Ma’am, your kid does not need a COVID shot. Your kid needs a f***ing treadmill. That’s what he needs.”
As the clip of Maiolo attacking Espino circulated online, the internet called her a “vile human,” “cruel,” “evil,” and “disgusting.” They did not show any sympathy towards her for spreading vaccine misinformation.
Jessica Maiolo and the USA’s paintball team respond to the backlash
Team USA Paintball, not affiliated with the Olympics, released a statement on August 10 where they mentioned that they were cutting ties with the athlete.
The team responded to Jessica Maiolo’s TikTok video through Instagram, saying:
They also said:
Jessica Maiolo also issued an apology for her actions on Instagram. The video was captioned:
In the video, she wrote:
She added that it was never her intention to shame any individual and that her reaction to the COVID patient stemmed from her assumption of people believing “they have little hope in the way of staying healthy and being in control of their wellness.”
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