Charles Barkley to join President Biden, Barack Obama in vaccination special

Ethan Fuller
Apr 18 2021

Charles Barkley will join Shaquille O'Neal, along with President Joe Biden, Barack Obama and a number of other special guests, for NBC's Roll Up Your Sleeves vaccination special on Sunday. Barkley told BasketballNews.com that Obama approached him with the offer to join the special.

"He called me because he wants more people to get the vaccine," Barkley said of the former U.S. president. "We want black celebrities on board so that people will stop fearing the vaccine. Think about it: If a rich black guy gets sick, he will see a good doctor. But if poor black people get sick, they really suffer economically. I am telling people: 'Get the vaccine, man.'" 

The event will be hosted by Russell Wilson and Ciara. Other guests include Michelle Obama, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jennifer Lopez and Billy Crystal. 

Barkley added that he feels he has a good understanding of the vaccine's importance.

"Fauci explained it well; he said with every vaccine there are side effects," Barkley said. "But the financial ruin this is causing is extreme. Poor people, whether they are black or white, need to get back to work."
 
BasketballNews.com's Chris Sheridan contributed to this report.