Topline
After getting backlash for participating in a PSA-style ad campaign meant to “defeat despair” and address the Trump administration’s response to the coronavirus, Politico reported, gospel singer CeCe Winans denied that her participation was political, saying her role focused on the importance of mask wearing.
Key Facts
Winans said she filmed an interview with Surgeon General Jerome Adams focusing on mask wearing and other preventative measures. “It was not political at all,” she said.
Actor Dennis Quaid, who praised Trump’s coronavirus response in April, also filmed an interview with Dr. Anthony Fauci for the campaign produced by the Department of Health and Human Services.
HHS staff wanted to approach country music star Garth Brooks, but there is no evidence he actually accepted a request. Brooks’ publicist would not answer questions on the record for this story.
Dr. Mehmet Oz was also eyed as a potential participant, but a spokesperson told Politico he “is not scheduled to participate at this time.”
The HHS ad campaign is being funded by $300 million Congress originally appropriated to the CDC, according to Politico.
Chief Critics
Ten current and former health officials told Politico they are concerned about the campaign’s funding source. Instead of taking money from the CDC’s budget to combat the pandemic, the Trump administration should have worked with lawmakers to allocate a separate fund for the ad campaign with Congressional oversight, they say. "CDC hasn’t yet done an awareness campaign about Covid guidelines—but they are going to pay for a campaign about how to get rid of our despair?” Josh Peck, a former Obama administration HHS official in charge of the advertising campaign for HealthCare.gov.
Crucial Quote
“I was asked a couple of weeks ago to do an interview with Surgeon General Jerome Adams about the coronavirus. And this interview stresses how important it is for everyone to wear a mask and it also gives other instructions on how to get on the other side of this pandemic,” Winans said in a video posted on Twitter. “It was not political at all.”
What’s Next
HHS is still filming the campaign and it’s unclear when the official videos will be released.