Back in 2020, wearing masks was part of everyday life because of COVID-19. Now, many people have stopped using them, even though the virus is still around. In the UK, recent numbers show over 1,600 cases, 79 deaths, and more than 1,100 hospital admissions as of September 18.
Violet Affleck, daughter of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, is not one of the people who has stopped wearing a mask. She has been speaking out against mask bans and recently made a public plea about the importance of masks.
Violet is the oldest of the Affleck-Garner children. She has a sister, Seraphina, who is 16, and a brother, Samuel, who is 13. Violet is 19 and studies public health at Yale University. She even published a research paper comparing how Los Angeles handled wildfires and the COVID-19 pandemic.
She continues to wear a mask because she was diagnosed with a post-viral condition in 2019. She has said that this experience showed her that medicine doesn’t always have answers for the effects of even minor viruses. For her, wearing a mask is about keeping herself and others safe. She has also warned that banning masks makes vulnerable people less safe. She has called for better access to free tests and treatments and opposes mask bans.
Recently, Violet wore a mask at the UN while speaking about airborne illnesses. She said society is moving back to normal too quickly and that long COVID is still a serious problem. She argued that clean air should be treated like a human right, just like clean water. She pointed out that long COVID has become the most common chronic illness among young children, even surpassing asthma. Violet said she is worried for children who may grow up knowing only pain and exhaustion from the virus.
Her UN speech upset Meghan McCain, who criticized Violet on social media, calling her speech absurd and saying she should not be speaking at the UN. Some people quickly pointed out the irony, noting that Meghan herself is often referred to as a “nepo baby” because of her father.
Violet’s message is clear: masks, clean air, and protection against COVID are still very important, even as many people return to life as usual.