Photo Credit: Meghan Roberts / CC by 2.0
R&B artist Jeremih is fighting for his life on a ventilator with a severe case of COVID. Here’s the update.
A representative for the Chicago artist told reporters that the musician is in the ICU. Jeremih, whose real name is Jeremy Felton, is experiencing rare complications from COVID-19 as a 33-year-old man.
“The COVID-19 condition he’s experiencing is rare for a young man his age without underlying conditions,” the representative told the press. He added that Felton’s family wanted to remind the world that coronavirus is a severe health risk.
“There’s no shame in contracting COVID-19, and people that have it need to be responsible and considerate of others,” the statement continues. “Everyone diagnosed with COVID-19 is affected differently. Unfortunately for Jeremih, COVID-19 viciously attacked his body.”
Jeremih is now fighting for his life on a ventilator with COVID-19, drawing support from throughout the music industry.
Chance the Rapper took to Twitter to ask his fans to pray for his close friend. “Please, if you can take a second to pray for my friend Jeremih, he is like a brother to me, and he’s ill right now. I believe in the healing power of Jesus, so if you can for me please, please say a prayer over him,” the rapper wrote.
Jeremih signed with Def Jam in 2009 and has since released four records and singles. News of his vicious fight with COVID-19 has led to an outpouring of support on social media.
Jeremih is just one of many new hospitalizations across the country. There are now more than 250,000 deaths in the United States since the start of the pandemic. Illinois has recorded 254,000 cases alone, according to Johns Hopkins University. It also highlights how one doesn’t need to have underlying conditions to be severely impacted by the disease.
Meanwhile, Australia and New Zealand are getting back to full capacity concerts after a lengthy lockdown. Queensland recently hosted the biggest football gathering of 2020, with over 42,000 fans in attendance live at the game.
It’s a far cry from the empty stands shown in American football stadiums and the utter lack of concerts. It could be until the middle of 2021 before live concerts make a middling return in North America. Meanwhile, tour crews, live venues, bars, dives, and other venues continue to suffer during these shutdowns.