Matthew McConaughey interviewed Dr. Anthony Fauci with the fast-talking, Oscar-winning actor on Instagram Thursday getting a chance to quiz the nation's top infectious disease specialist on COVID-19 for 40 minutes.
McConaughey immediately raised questions to the 79-year-old doctor about how worried people should be about catching the virus by touching a door knob (not as much as sharing near physical space with anyone infected, Fauci says) to whether Advil aggravates (it doesn't).
"Well, true-false: Will Sunlight destroy the virus?" asked McConaughey.
"It does," responded Fauci, supporting a theory promoted by President Donald Trump. "That really is the truth."
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How about letting us get sick so that we're all safe and the epidemic is dying out?
Fauci said, "No way. That would cause major problems, particularly in America, where obesity is widespread, and related conditions such as diabetes and hypertension are considered risk factors of how a person gets sick.
"When someone has contracted it ... a lot of people will die," said Fauci.
Pool / Getty ImagesThe head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Anthony Fauci, removes his protective mask from Washington Nationals during a House Select Committee on ... Read about More
Anthony Fauci, director of the National Center for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, removes his protective mask from Washington Nationals during a House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Outbreak hearing in Washington , D.C., on July 31, 2020.
Pool / Entertainment Images
"The death toll will be massive, and totally unacceptable," added Fauci. "So that's why we're against thinking, 'Let it go. Let us get infected so we're going to be okay.' That's a bad idea."
Fauci also said Americans have to choose between having to party this summer and opening schools in the fall: "You want to open the bars or do you want to open the schools?"
MORE: Will COVID-19 even have herd immunity?
McConaughey also questioned Fauci if he'd spent millions of dollars in a vaccine.
Fauci chuckled. "Matthew, no. I've got none! I'm a federal employee. I've got a government paycheck."
Known for its laid-back attitude and frequently pictured shirtless, McConaughey then wore a white-colored dress shirt and glasses for the interview. He became at points pessimistic, sharing his own personal frustration and what he said was anger at the reaction of the nation to the pandemic.
Michael Loccisano / Getty Images, FILE Santiago Felipe / Getty Images, FILEMatthew McConaughey takes part in a file premiere in New York on July 31, 2017. | Dr Anthony Fauci will attend a gala in New York on October 24, 2018.
Matthew McConaughey takes part in a film screening in New York on July 31, 2017. | Dr Anthony Fauci will attend a gala in New York on October 24, 2018.
Pictures by Michael Loccisano / Getty, Photo Santiago Felipe / Getty, Info
"Like other men, I was more than disillusioned — even very full of anger — at how COVID became politicized," McConaughey said, including masks.
Men, he said, are in a big period of unknown "looking for identity and meaning," and man, so many men have become disillusioned with our leadership, "he said. "But still too many people have fervently [clung] to the fringes of right and left, creating a lack of cohesion to split even more."
At the end of their conversation, McConaughey appeared to be heartened at Fauci 's idea that the country should come together again, since since World War II and 9/11 in the past it has done so.
"It is tantamount to that, Matthew. We have to come together, completely," said Fauci.
"That's it.... We can later have our independence, and our party. Let's get together right now," McConaughey said.