Omarion Addressed People Comparing Him To the COVID Omicron Variant
Omarion rose to prominence as a part of B2K in the late ’90s and early 2000s, but in 2021, the music star was likened to the omicron variant of coronavirus (COVID-19). The “Post to Be” singer even took to social media to address the comparisons.
The omicron variant of COVID-19 is ravaging the world
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in early 2020, a number of different variants of SARS-CoV-2 have emerged as the virus continues to mutate. In mid-2021, the delta variant spread rapidly around the world. And in late 2021, the omicron variant became the dominant form of the virus in the US and around the world.
Omicron, like all other variants of the virus, is named after a letter in the Greek alphabet. Still, because of the confusion surrounding the name — including by President Joe Biden himself — the virus has jokingly been referred to as the “Omarion variant.”
Omarion clarified he’s ‘not a variant’
After the jokes circulated on the internet, Omarion himself took to TikTok to address the discrepancy. He shared a series of videos starting on January 1, 2022.
Well, the R&B artist has heard all the jokes and he’s running with it. “Hi, everybody, this is Omarion. I am an artist — not a variant,” he began. “So please be aware, if you just so happen to run into me on the street, you don’t have to isolate for 5 days, nor do you have to have a negative test result in order to dance to my music.”
In a follow-up TikTok, which included his 2005 hit “Touch,” the singer goes on to explain. “While it’s important not to touch me and keep your distance, cause you know that’s how it’s supposed to be, you don’t need a negative test to dance to my music,” he said.
In a video made for Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, Omarion even read a legal statement distancing himself from the coronavirus variant. I know that there has been a lot of confusion recently on the Internet, so my lawyers asked me to read this,” he said, holding up a piece of paper. “I, Omarion, am a musician and an entertainer — you knew that — not a viral variant. I’ve been getting a lot of DMs. Don’t be disrespectful, O.K.?”
Omarion’s busy 2021
Besides dodging claims of being the cause of a contagious virus, Omarion was busy all throughout 2021. He embarked on The Millennium Tour, which featured members of B2K as they reunited and performed their greatest hits from decades ago.
Omarion also competed on the fifth season of The Masked Singer. He competed as wildcard contestant, and eventually finished in fourth place.
In 2022, Omarion will release his first book. The memoir, titled Full Circle: Lessons & Takeaways on How to Live an Unbothered Life, will chronicle his life in B2K and as a solo star.
