David LaChapelle on pandemic, spirituality, and the end of the world as we know it

In a wide-ranging interview during the COVID-19 quarantine, artist David LaChapelle (born 1963 in Connecticut) reflects on the pandemic as an apocalyptic moment mirroring his own works. He describes the lockdown as a "time out" from God, noting that "the world before no longer exists." LaChapelle discusses his spiritual practice of prayer and Bible reading, his grief over environmental destruction (90% insect loss in three years on Maui), and his criticism of contemporary culture's obsession with serial killers and pornography. He praises Pope Francis for his message of love and cites Franco Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet as a positive cultural milestone. LaChapelle sees the pandemic as an opportunity for international mourning and recognition of essential workers. He expresses difficulty loving those who harm nature or others, naming Donald Trump as an example. The interview was published on Artribune in May 2020.