FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WKRN) — Conservative radio talk show host Phil Valentine has died after weeks in a Nashville area hospital battling COVID-19, according to his brother and SuperTalk 99.7 WTN.
His family revealed on July 22 that Valentine was hospitalized “in very serious condition” and was suffering from “covid pneumonia,” along with other side effects of the virus.
Days later, relatives said Valentine was placed on a ventilator. Valentine, who hosted The Phil Valentine Show on Nashville’s SuperTalk 99.7 WTN, confirmed July 11 on his Facebook page that he had tested positive for COVID. He spoke about his battle with the virus on his radio show.
“I think I’m on the other side of it,” Valentine said of the virus, as he described coughing, congestion, and fatigue that “hurts like crap.”
He added, “I’m certainly moving forward, it appears, but not in a straight line… It’s just one of those things. I don’t want it to linger on.”
Valentine had previously expressed his disagreement with mask mandates, stating that hospitals were never in danger of being overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients. He has also been critical of the virus vaccines, voicing his concerns over their safety.
“Phil would like for his listeners to know that while he has never been an ‘anti-vaxer’ he regrets not being more vehemently ‘Pro-Vaccine’ and looks forward to being able to more vigorously advocate that position as soon as he is back on the air, which we all hope will be soon,” his family wrote in their initial statement following his hospitalization.
That statement concluded, “PLEASE GO GET VACCINATED!”