Fitness trainer and Team USA Paintball player Jessica Maiolo was fired from the team after she was accused of ‘fat shaming’ a teen hospitalized for Covid-19 by saying he needs ‘a f**king treadmill’ more than a vaccine. On Tuesday, Team USA Paintball said that it has removed a member “indefinitely” following backlash over the now-viral TikTok video in which the player claimed that the boy’s weight contributed to the severity of his infection.
In the since-deleted 15-second video, Maiolo stood in front of TV airing a news report about children with the coronavirus and basically spread misinformation about Covid. The video gained attention in no time for not only being offensive but also allegedly spreading false claims about covid and body type.
READ MORE
Where is Dominique Moceanu now? Magnificent Seven gymnast ‘starved and fat-shamed’ by coaches
According to NBC News, which viewed the video before it was deleted, Maiolo responded to a teenage boy who was in the hospital, saying, “Ma’am, your kid does not need a Covid shot. Your kid needs a f**king treadmill. That’s what he needs.” Many social media users took to the internet to condemn Maiolo for her commentary. One user named Savannah Sparks also made a video in response that also went viral, “Jessica, as a member of Team USA Paintball, I don’t think you’re qualified to speak on public health…
