Watch Dan Levy Explain Why Wearing a Mask Isn't About Freedom

He shouldn't have had to do this, but we're glad he did.

Mikelle Street

Mikelle is the former editorial director of digital for PrideMedia, guiding digital editorial and social across Out, The Advocate, Pride.com, Out Traveler, and Plus. After starting as a freelancer for Out in 2013, he joined the staff as Senior Editor working across print and digital in 2018. In early 2021 he became Out's digital director, marking a pivot to content that centered queer and trans stories and figures, exclusively. In September 2021, he was promoted to editorial director of PrideMedia. He has written cover stories on Ricky Martin, Miss Fame, Nyle DiMarco, Jeremy O. Harris, Law Roach, and Symone.

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Mikelle Street

May 20 2020 10:59 AM EST

August 17 2020 5:30 AM EST

MikelleStreet

People are split on whether or not they should wear masks or face coverings, truly split. While many have gone all-in wearing masks, scarves, and whatever else they can muster to put at least one layer between their mouths (and noses) and the rest of the world, others have completely rejected the notion. They have stormed parks, grocery stores, and other public spaces yelling about their rights and calling those abiding by the suggestions -- which come from medical professionals -- sheep. Thankfully, the ever-patient Dan Levy is hoping to get them to look at things differently.

"Hi, I've been seeing a lot of viral videos about people who are actively not wearing masks because they perceive it to be an infringement on their freedom and I suppose in a way I can understand the frustration of being told what to do which is why I would like to propose a recontextualization of this whole thing," the Schitt's Creek creator said in a new video he posted to Instagram.

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"Imagine seeing it not as an infringement on your freedom but rather the simplest, easiest act of kindness that you can do in a day, not just for yourself but for other people who might have autoimmune issues," he continued. "People who, if they were to contract [the disesase] with those issues might have some devastating repercussions. So, yeah, see it not as anyone or anything infringing on your freedom but rather if you have the freedom to leave your house -- if you have the good health to leave your house, ,why not put on a mask, make it your good deed for the day and do something nice for yourself and other people."