[imagesource: New York Times]

My sympathy for billionaires is limited.

That being said, I don’t think it’s right that Bill Gates walks around in public and has people shout abuse at him because they believe ridiculous conspiracy theories about COVID-19 vaccines and tracking.

Shout at him regarding paying his fair share of taxes. Shout at all billionaires on that front.

In an interview with the BBC’s Today programme, Gates spoke about a number of issues. Let’s start with his incredibly misguided friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, which contributed to the end of his marriage:

Asked about the meetings, Mr Gates described talking with Epstein as a “mistake”.

“I made a mistake ever meeting with Jeffrey Epstein. You know, maybe her [Melinda’s] instincts on that were keener than mine.”

“Any meeting I had with him could be viewed as almost condoning his evil behaviour. So, that was a mistake.”

Yes, Bill, it was a major mistake. Melinda has made it clear that you dropped the ball on multiple fronts and that door is shut.

As for funding COVID-19 vaccine research, which was not a mistake, there are also repercussions as brain-melting conspiracy theories took off on social media:

“In some ways, you almost have to laugh because it’s so crazy,” he says.

“I mean, do I really want to track people? You know, I spend billions on vaccines, I don’t make money on vaccines, vaccines save lives.”

Mr Gates also said he’d been shouted at by conspiracy theorists on the street.

“Only recently I’ve been out in public, [and] some people yell at me that I’m tracking them. And that, that’s an awful thing.”

Newsflash – your phone is tracking you, not the jab.

Earlier in the week, Gates was also interviewed on a separate TODAY show and talked about his divorce and a number of other topics:

…Asked if he had ever been unfaithful in his marriage, the 66-year-old philanthropist said, “I certainly made mistakes and I take responsibility,” but didn’t elaborate.

“I don’t think delving into the particulars at this point is constructive, but yes, I caused pain, and I feel terrible about that,” Gates told Savannah [Guthrie].

He was unfaithful. I think that much is obvious.

The PR blitz comes ahead of the release of Gates’ new book, How to Prevent the Next Pandemic. Sadly, we are sitting ducks because nobody can agree on even the most basic of facts.

Here’s that TODAY interview in full before we go:

[sources:bbc&today]