Art collector and doctor Fabrizio Lucherini spreads coronavirus misinformation in viral video

Fabrizio Lucherini, a Roman art collector and radiologist working in private clinics, posted a video filled with false claims about the COVID-19 pandemic. The video went viral, garnering millions of views and sparking controversy. Lucherini downplayed the virus's mortality rate, claimed data is manipulated, and asserted that countries like Germany, South Korea, and Japan had resolved the crisis within a month—contradicting facts. He also criticized Italy's lockdown as a folly, ignoring global measures. Artribune editor Massimiliano Tonelli published an exposé calling out Lucherini's misinformation, noting his prominence in Rome's art scene. Lucherini responded with a lengthy rebuttal, defending his video as an attempt to calm his followers and criticizing the state of Italy's public healthcare. He also claimed to have directed radiology departments and treated COVID-19 patients himself. The incident highlights the intersection of art world figures and dangerous misinformation during the pandemic.