From T-shirts bearing his picture to drinks and sweets that were invented in his name, no one would have expected the 79-year-old epidemiologist Anthony Fauci, the official in the crisis cell charged with fighting the new Corona virus in the White House, to become a star in the eyes of Americans.
Tony Master, accompanied by his fiancée and dog in the back seat, cut three hours in his car to buy sweets that are very popular today and are called "Duck Donuts". It carries a fuchsia image printed on a food paper created by "Donuts Delight" in Rochester, New York.
With this innovation, Nick Cimmeraro, owner of Donuts Delight, wanted to honor the director of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, whom he considered "a strong and calm voice in the midst of chaos" during press conferences broadcast on television and attended by the expert almost daily, alongside the president.
"I have never seen a person who likes this number of people like Fuchi," Simeraro told AFP, adding that he had to open new telephone lines to manage the torrent of requests.
Fuchi's revenge,
and the pictures of this epidemiologist with his small glasses and prominent cheeks lying on everything, from shirts bearing the words "We Trust My Difference" to coffee cups reading "Stay calm and wash your hands," passing through socks and candles.
| History professor Julian Zilizer: Fauchi has always insisted on telling the truth even before an angry boss behind him (Reuters) |
And displays on the American platform for the electronic sale of hand-made pieces more than three thousand pieces bearing the name of the expert, while the "fan club group, Dr. Anthony Fuchi" includes more than 79 thousand members on Facebook, and the account that has the same name on Twitter 21 thousand subscribers.
The video game, "Fawchi's Revenge," bears the name of the doctor, in which laser beams come out of his eyes to destroy the Corona viruses in purple color. He also made a drink of lemon, vodka, elderberry and "grapefruit" called "Vacci Bauchi".
"It's crazy! We sold 300 units of it only last Saturday," said Rohit Malhottra - who made this drink and runs the old-fashioned "Cabo" bar in Washington.
However, there was no indication that the New Yorker, who is known for his conservatism and internationally respected because of his experience in a number of viruses - from AIDS to Ebola - has become a star in popular culture.
Robert Thompson - who heads the department of television and popular culture at Syracuse University - said that, by appearing on television at the White House, Fawcci was "pushed into the hearts of all" Americans.
The virologist has come to enjoy media dominance with his satirical voice through direct interviews on the Snapchat app, or by answering basketball star Stephen Curry's questions via Instagram or comedian Tervor Noa on YouTube.
| University professor Robert Thompson: Through his television appearances at the White House, Fawcci was "pushed into the hearts of all" Americans (Reuters) |
Reason and science,
and what explains the enthusiasm that arouses it, too, is his direct method, and his ability to re-present Donald Trump's rough statements with scientific arguments.
"In a period of crisis like this, Americans want heroes," said Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public relations at Princeton University, adding that Fuchi always insisted on telling the truth even before an angry president standing behind him.
Robert Thompson explained that Fuchi's stature is short and very natural and appears as he speaks with reason and knowledge.
Tony Mastangelo does not exclude the purchase of other products bearing the image of the doctor, stressing that he respects the expert because he "does not make things up", unlike Donald Trump.
But this world’s keenness to correct the president’s mistakes put him in the face of opponents also from among conservatives and some groups that are fiercely hostile to science.
He has been subjected to a violent campaign to discredit him on social media, which prompted the US government to strengthen security measures to protect him.
Donald Trump himself reported a tweet containing the phrase "sack fuchi!", While expressing his admiration for the expert who described him as "a great man".
Asked by American journalist Peter Hampi about a petition calling for the election of Fawcci as "the most exciting man in 2020" for "People" magazine and collected more than 18,000 signatures, Fawcci said, "Where were you when I was thirty years old?"