Farrel Austin Levitt (August 1, 1956 – August 4, 2021),[1] known professionally as Dick Farrel, was an American conservative media personality and anti-vaccine activist. Born and raised in Queens, New York City, he graduated from Queens College and began a career in radio broadcasting in the New York City area before moving to Florida in 1983.[2] Farrel was working for WJUP in Jupiter and WFLN in Arcadia (today WCXS). Farrel was known as a shock jock with a provocative style, and also played a role in local Republican Party politics.[3][2] His right-wing talk radio commentary led to a lawsuit for libel in 2002.[4] He later served as a substitute host for Newsmax.[5]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Farrel was a prolific spreader of COVID-19 misinformation via social media.[6] He mocked the pandemic as a "scam", encouraged people to avoid COVID-19 vaccination, and attacked Anthony Fauci as a "power tripping lying freak".[6] Farrel became ill with COVID-19 in summer 2021, and his condition rapidly deteriorated. Once hospitalized, his friends said that he expressed regret about refusing vaccination and about his role in encouraging others to do so.[7] He died from complications of the virus in West Palm Beach, Florida, on August 4, 2021, at age 65.[6][8]

References

  1. ↑ Rosenblatt, Kalhan (August 8, 2021). "Florida radio and Newsmax host who opposed Covid vaccine dies of Covid complications". NBC News. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  2. 1 2 Dozier, Marian (August 20, 2001). "DOES TALK RADIO SAY TOO MUCH? - ON-AIR ATTACKS SPUR QUESTIONS OF FREE SPEECH". Sun Sentinel.
  3. ↑ Man, Anthony (May 13, 2006). "GOP RABBLE-ROUSER RIPS INTO A FELLOW REPUBLICAN". Sun Sentinel.
  4. ↑ "Truth takes on fantasy during Palm Beach slander trial". South Florida Business Journal. June 10, 2002. Retrieved August 9, 2021 – via www.bizjournals.com. So what if WPBR talk show host Richard Kelley Farrel aka "Green-Eyed Monster," shoots off his AM mouth calling a retired teacher a homosexual pedophile?
  5. ↑ Kampeas, Ron (August 10, 2021). "Jewish Funeral for Dick Farrel, COVID Skeptic Who Died of the Virus". Jerusalem Post.
  6. 1 2 3 Man, Anthony (August 13, 2021). "Conservative radio host, COVID-19 denier, dies of virus; 65-year-old had refused to get a vaccination". Sun Sentinel.
  7. ↑ "Vocal anti-vaccine broadcaster dies from COVID-19 complications". WPTV. August 6, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  8. ↑ Coverage of Farrel's death from COVID-19:
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