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Just a day after giving an impassioned speech demanding that the leaders of Ireland institute a lockdown on the country to help stop the spread of infection, former UFC world champion Conor McGregor announced he would be purchasing and donating one million euros ($1.09 million) worth of protective equipment to hospitals in his home country.
Following his pleas, Irish Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe contacted McGregor and encouraged him to continue to encourage social distancing in Ireland.
McGregor responded to Donohoe by reminding him that he has used his platforms, multiple times, to encourage hand washing and asking people to “stay vigilant and stay indoors,” but after seeing so many locations “packed to the brim” he decided to go “further” and create the video.
“Today I am purchasing myself, €1million worth of personal protective equipment to be deployed to all the fighting hospitals in the Leinster region. Our most affected region, to this date. St James. Mater, Tallaght. Beaumont. Vincent’s,” McGregor continued. “Where we would be without these brave men and women, I do not know. May God bless over them and keep them safe.”
McGregor add in his message to Donohoe, “We more units on the street to enforce this lockdown Pascal [sic]. It has been too lax!”
He then shared a story that should concern anyone in Ireland, or any other country where airports are not doing enough.
“The airport situation is currently not good anough also. If not the worst of them all,” wrote McGregor. “I have a friend yesterday, who waltzed back in from Thailand, handed a covid 19 leaflet from airport staff, who were unmasked and ungloved. And let walk right out the door. Back into Ireland. This is just not good enough at this time.”
McGregor’s not wrong. Just don’t tell that to his boss at the UFC, Dana White, who agreed with McGregor’s assessment that a lockdown is needed, but doesn’t see any reason for it to last too long.
“The question becomes how long are we gonna do this? How long are we really gonna stay in our houses and hide?” White told Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin Iole on Tuesday. “If the coronavirus is what’s gonna get me, then so be it. It is what it is. The list goes on and on with things that kill people every year. One thing is guaranteed, we’re all gonna die of something.
“Since when do Americans run and hide in their freaking houses instead of taking this head on and finding solutions?. Protect the people that need to be protected. Whether you’re a coronavirus expert or not, it’s like hiding from cancer. You can’t hide from this thing.
“What’s gonna happen next flu season? This thing’s just gonna disappear? No, it’s gonna come back just like the flu. If it’s what’s gonna get you, it’s gonna get you. If the coronavirus is what’s gonna get me, then bring it.”
Be careful what you wish for, Mr. White.