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Is Chris Hemsworth an anti-vaxxer? Refusal to appear in Covid campaign sparks speculation

It wasn't clear as to why he rejected the offer till a new report shed light on the situation surrounding his desire to get vaccinated in the first place

'Avengers: Endgame' star Chris Hemsworth has found himself at the centre of a Covid controversy. Amidst reports that he refused to appear in a government campaign promoting the vaccine rollout, some reports speculated whether the actor was an anti-vaxxer.

However, the 38-year-old actor couldn't have looked more carefree even if he tried as he went surfing with his wife, Elsa Pataky, in Byron Bay. The 'Thor' actor remained unaffected amidst claims that he refused to be a part of a star-studded advertising campaign to promote the Covid vaccine in Australia. 

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According to some reports floating online, Hemsworth was trying to secure himself a Pfizer jab two months ago, but when the government offered him a "speedy vaccination" in exchange for featuring in the public health campaign, he declined the offer. 

It wasn't clear as to why he rejected the offer till a new report shed light on the situation surrounding his desire to get vaccinated in the first place.

According to a report in The Sydney Morning Herald, the actor needed an immediate Covid vaccine so he could star in a National Geographic docuseries called 'Limitless', which began filming in mid-June. The report says that the big-budget production was filmed in Armidale, in northern New South Wales, and involved vulnerable indigenous communities, which made it necessary for the documentary team to be vaccinated. 

Produced by Oscar-nominated director Darren Aronofsky and media executive Jane Root, 'Limitless' is "an epic mission to transform himself [Chris Hemsworth] by training for six extraordinary challenges, showing how to fight ageing at every stage of life".

"Basically, I was somehow convinced to volunteer myself as a human guinea pig and endure a series of mental and physical challenges across the globe, all for the sake of science," Hemsworth said in a statement. "We're hoping to shed some light on new ideas and emerging science with the focus on extending a healthy lifespan."

On social media, the update has gotten many people talking. "Chris Hemsworth privately getting a Pfizer vaccine in June and refusing to do a public vaccination advertisement for the government is just peak Byron Bay resident behavior," one wrote. The Hemsworths reportedly live near Byron Bay, in an enormous mansion at Broken Head, which they designed and built themselves. 

Another angry user wrote, "Well, F you very much @chrishemsworth. You and your team had the audacity to demand the federal government arrange a special allocation of #Pfizer #COVID19 vaccine (despite limited supplies), but then refused to assist in promoting vaccination?"

One user defended the actor for not wanting to promote the vaccine ad, writing on Twitter, "@chrishemsworth is correct in his decision. There's no need to promote a vaccine. You want it, go get it. You don't, that's fine too." To which, a user wrote, "Vaccination is a public health issue, not some matter of "you want it, go get it" And the actor specifically asked the federal government to make special arrangements for him."