Chronic Illness & Wearing Mask Backlash
A few months ago, I was the hospital with my aunt and while I was waiting to get her checked in, I had to go to the bathroom and I made a quick video and about my weight loss because I’ve lost over 50 pounds and I just made a video and I had my mask on, I have chronic illness get sick very easy. I can just look at someone that’s sick and I get sick so needless to say I posted this video on clapper and received a lot of backlash just because I was wearing a mask so here are some of the things that people said to me:
“ take the mask off loser”
“Studies have showed that if you can smell a fart through that mask, it aint protecting you from anything fact it's hurting you. You should not be sucking in what you're supposed to be exhaling”
“lose the mask liberal”
“You lost me with the mask”
“take off your stupid mask are you so stupid now”
“why the fudge do you have a mask on in the restroom while shooting a video”
OK, I’m certain that you’ve read through all of it now I wanna know what did I do to any of these people to deserve the fact that they were mean to me on the Internet without knowing my actual situation why is there such a big deal over wearing a mask when you have a chronic illness just because you don’t know someone doesn’t give you a right to tell them what to do or tell them what to wear if I wanted to wear a ski mask on my face Who cares it’s my body I’m able to do what I wanna do. I can wear a hat on my head if I chose to wear a hat if that protected me from getting sick specially while in the emergency room so in saying that have is anyone experienced issues such as this With public backlash on wearing a mask out in public? And what did you do to respond? I choose to not respond to people that are negative. I did tell one guy I responded to you and I said I have a chronic illness. That’s part of the reason why I’m wearing a mask and that’s all I said I didn’t really respond to any of the other rude comments. What would you have done in this case?
Living with a chronic illness means constantly navigating environments that can trigger health risks. Wearing a mask is a crucial and personal protective measure for many in this situation, and it’s frustrating when others don’t understand or respect that choice. The backlash against mask-wearing is often rooted in misunderstanding or societal fatigue after prolonged pandemic measures, but for those with compromised immune systems, masks are more than a statement—they’re necessary protection. Masks help reduce the spread of infections, safeguarding not only the wearer but also those around them. For people who get sick easily due to chronic illnesses, avoiding exposure in public spaces like hospitals is vital. Unfortunately, some comments can be hurtful, attacking mask-wearers with misinformation such as masks causing harm by re-breathing exhaled air. However, scientific studies have consistently shown masks are effective barriers against respiratory droplets. When facing public criticism online or in person, responding with clear but calm explanations about your health needs can help. Sometimes simply stating your situation without engaging in arguments stops the negative commentary. It’s also okay to set boundaries and choose not to respond to negativity to protect your mental well-being. Ultimately, body autonomy means you can make decisions for your health without needing to justify them to others. Whether you wear a surgical mask, cloth mask, or even a ski mask, your choice is valid if it helps you stay healthy. Sharing personal stories, like mine, can build empathy and awareness, encouraging others to respect differences rather than judge. If you’ve experienced similar backlash, knowing you’re not alone can be empowering, and seeking supportive communities makes coping easier.