Dick Farrel

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]

Not to be confused with Dick Farrell.

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. 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. 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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