A married couple from Alabama who spread misinformation about vaccines on YouTube died from Covid-19 only weeks apart.
Dusty and Tristan Graham, who ran a popular channel that saw them resell vintage items and antiques were staunch anti-vaxxers.
Dusty died on Thursday, more than three weeks after his wife ‘passed suddenly in her sleep’ due to coronavirus complications on August 25, according to an online fundraiser set up by their children.
On the GoFundMe page, which has now reached $25,000, the couple’s daughter, Windsor, wrote: ‘Unfortunately, Dusty and Tristan have both passed away.
‘Thank you all for your kind words and helping us during this difficult time. We will be using the money to pay for funeral expenses.’
Only weeks prior, Dusty confirmed that his wife had died and that he was in ICU, battling the virus.
He added: ‘We will be looking at multiple expenses within the next week – medical, funeral, burial plot, expenses, casket, etc.
‘I would like to have a little left over to help Gabe and Windsor out. Anything you can find in your heart, will be so appreciated.’
One of the last videos posted by the couple on their now deleted YouTube channel, named Alabama Pickers, was reposted elsewhere on the video-sharing site, AL.com.
In the 90-minute clip, which showed the couple as they drove, Dusty made his anti-vaccine stance abundantly clear while discussing mask mandates in his state.
He went on to say how he had his ‘own passport’, referring to his birth certificate and the U.S. Constitution, that he said ‘allowed him to travel wherever he wanted without trouble.’
He added that he had managed to survive without a vaccine for the past year and knew of friends who contracted the virus together with two of their children.
Dozens of people contributed to their funeral costs and paid their condolences in the form of short, heartfelt messages.
One donor Sherri Houtz said: ‘I truly feel sorry that this happened. Please take my condolences and may their memory serve as a reminder to protect yourselves and not let this happen to you or yours.’
Others donated small amounts like $5 adding that the couple played ‘Russian Roulette’ with their lives and the lives of others.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.