British Vogue pulls M.I.A. interview over anti-vaccination comments

Last month, M.I.A. posted a controversial tweet in response to the coronavirus pandemic and the ongoing research to find a vaccine, "If I have to choose the vaccine or chip I'm gonna choose death."

The following week she explained her opinion on vaccines, "I'm not against vaccines. I'm against companies who care more for profit then humans. I care for better track record that proves this. I care that African countries are not always the testing ground. I don't want it coming from banks / tech /hedge fund sector and I want a choice."

Earlier today (22 April), M.I.A. posted a screenshot of a message she received cancelling her interview/spread in British Vogue's forthcoming August issue. The message reads, "Sadly Edward/Vogue has decided to withdraw the offer for Vogue spread in August due to vaccination comments..."

The message then quotes British Vogue's editor-in-chief Edward Enninful, "considering our August is an issue where we're chronicling the struggles of the NHS to cope while a vaccine is tried to be made we don't feel we can have her involved."

M.I.A. posted a lengthy caption in response to the messages, "Dear vogue. Thank you for really being understanding. Thank you for not forgetting that I was helping Jeremy Corbyn fight for the NHS, when everyone voted Boris."

She goes on to speak about her activism and sarcastically thanks Vogue for "giving me the time to research how many people's lives have been affected by enforced vaccines across many African countries. Especially causing infertility in African women."

M.I.A. wraps up her post by stating that people have labelled her an anti-vaxxer, "Thank you for considering me for the feature however I'm going to be busy researching ..... won't be able to make it.
anti vaxer is your term. It didn't exist before this binary addiction everyone has to separate everything into this and that. Anti this Anti that. I prefer to not make everything so black and white. I'm sure there's variety of doctors researchers and labs and counties who understands what's happenings, I'm sure there are good drugs and bad drugs out there. Just doing research isn't an anti anything but pro respecting the process. Btw how many vaccines are you prepared to have? one a year ? 10 a month ? 2 a year ? Lack of discussion is censorship."

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@britishvogue Dear vogue Thank you for really being understanding . Thank you for not forgetting that I was helping Jeremy Corbyn fight for the NHS, when everyone voted Boris. Thank you for not forgetting that I stood with Tamils when the Sri lankan government was bombing UN civilian hospitals , taking financial /career hit . Thank you for not forgetting that I live to speak for immigrants who hold up the healthcare systems of the west. Thank you for acknowledging that choice is a liberty I choose to excerise and fight for , thank you for giving me the time to research how many people's lives have been affected by enforced vaccines across many African countries . Especially causing infertility in African women. In India a surge in the number of cases of polio , particularly among children, has prompted the Indian Medical Association to question India’s eradication strategies. As for medical staff they they have been over worked under paid in a system that upheld over paid bankers and celebrities for years. Yes health deserves better breaks . They need help with child care / rent / better hours and protection and acknowledgment , and I'm very happy that this is finally happening. In America they need free health care ! Health care isnt and shouldn't be treated like a business. With the 4trillion bailout they could have achieved printing out whatever they need to give people better healthcare which even Cuba has achieved even with decades of sanctions. Thank you for considering me for the feature however I'm going to be busy researching ..... won't be able to make it. anti vaxer is your term . It didn't exist before this binary addiction everyone has to separate everything into this and that . Anti this Anti that. I prefer to not make everything so black and white. I'm sure there's variety of doctors researchers and labs and counties who understands what's happenings , I'm sure there are good drugs and bad drugs out there . Just doing research isn't an anti anything but pro respecting the process . Btw how many vaccines are you prepared to have? one a year ? 10 a month ? 2 a year ? Lack of discussion is censorship.

A post shared by MIA (@miamatangi) on Apr 22, 2020 at 3:23am PDT