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Is Eric Clapton anti-vaxxer? Singer refuses to perform at venues with proof of vaccine mandate

Eric Clapton had collaborated with Van Morrison during the pandemic to release the anti-lockdown song 'Stand and Deliver'

Veteran English guitarist and singer Eric Clapton has declared that he would not be performing at venues that mandatorily require proof of Covid-19 vaccine from the attendees. The 76-year-old musician issued the shocking statement after UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson decreed on July 19 that vaccine passes will be required to enter nightclubs and other venues. Clapton had earlier shared about his "disastrous experience" after receiving the Covid-19 jab. 

Clapton shared his statement via the Telegram account of producer and architect Robin Monotti, who is also known to be skeptical about the Covid-19 vaccine. "Following the PM’s announcement on Monday the 19th of July 2021 I feel honor-bound to make an announcement of my own. I wish to say that I will not perform on any stage where there is a discriminated audience present. Unless there is provision made for all people to attend, I reserve the right to cancel the show," Clapton stated. 

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Though Eric Clapton might not be an anti-vaxxer, given the fact that he has received the jab himself, he had previously expressed his doubts about the pandemic. In fact, he collaborated with Van Morrison on the song 'Stand and Deliver' which is dubbed as 'anti-lockdown' in theme. A link to the song was attached in his latest statement against the proof of vaccine mandate at venues. 

In June 2021, Clapton opened up about how the Covid-19 vaccine shook his immune system. "After taking the jab, I was shaking like a leaf and I went to bed early and I couldn’t get up at all. I thought I was running a fever. I was boiling hot and sweaty and then I was cold.” He further added, "....the reactions were disastrous, my hands and feet were either frozen, numb or burning, and pretty much useless for two weeks. The vaccine took my immune system and just shook it around again. And that’s still going on." 

However, Clapton's latest stance on the proof of vaccine at venues has earned him severe criticism on social media. 

Bestselling author Steve Silberman tweeted, "Clapton to his fans: Drop dead."

"Yet another reason to avoid hanging out with Eric Clapton fans," The Daily Beast's Erin Ryan wrote.

Writer Shauna tweeted, "it's like Eric Clapton got mad people forgot his racist past and was all "wait did you know there are other things that make me an a*****e"

"Yes, I'm worried about the Delta variant and rightly so, but I'll be honest I'm mostly getting vaccinated knowing that it will significantly reduce my risk of being exposed to an Eric Clapton concert," a user tweeted. 

Another joked, "Funnily enough, I will not attend shows where Eric Clapton is required."

Eric Clapton had been embroiled in controversy in the past for his alleged racist remarks when he asked foreigners to "get out" of his concert.