Magda Szubanski stars in a new coronavirus safety ad campaign. Photo / Supplied
Magda Szubanski stars in a new coronavirus safety ad campaign. Photo / Supplied
Actor Magda Szubanski has been targeted by coronavirus conspiracy theorists after her recent appearance in a COVID-19 messaging campaign for the Victorian Government.
The Aussie star reprises her iconic role of Sharon Strzelecki from Kath and Kim for the lighthearted ad, aimed at reminding Victorians about the state's strict coronavirus lockdown.
"I am so over this lockdown … but you know what? It's not the lockdown that's the enemy, it's the virus. The sooner we obey the rules, the sooner this will all be over and we can get back to the stuff that really matters," Szubanski says in the ad.
But once the ad was posted to social media over the weekend, Szubanski has been hit with a social media backlash from "trolls" and "flat out covid deniers":
Szubanski also revealed on Sunday that coronavirus conspiracy theorists had visited her home address, putting a bizarre postcard warning of "mask scams" through her letterbox:
The video is part of a government TV campaign, which also features well-known Victorians including AFLW player Tayla Harris, The Project host Waleed Aly and actor Shane Jacobson.
So someone popped this in my letterbox. Also that of my neighbour who lost his father to covid. His father was only in his early seventies & had a lot more life to live. For avowed free thinkers, the Covid deniers use the same herd speak - Deep State, Plandemic, hoax & conspiracy pic.twitter.com/YkLBS5pQMU
Ok here’s the thing. Troll me much as you like I am NEVAH gonna close my Twitter account. Bring it Covid Deniers - let’s see what you got. Let’s bring you right out into the sunshine. Let’s see your real names. And your real facts. Let’s see the whites of your eyes 👀
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews defended the new ad campaign in a statement over the weekend.
"As part of the latest in the Victorian Government's communications campaign, some of our most-loved Victorians are here to remind us all – staying safe is in our hands," he said.
"That includes small but simple things like wearing a mask, washing your hands, keeping your distance – and getting tested if you have symptoms.
"Using Victorian voices and a very Victorian sense of humour, this is the latest in our ongoing advertising and communications efforts and will be successively rolled out on social media channels in the coming days."
