--- title: "Fauci Says People Are Threatening His Wife and Daughters With Violence" description: "A new documentary sheds light on the abuse top infectious diseases specialist Anthony Fauci has had to endure since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic." date: "2021-10-07" modified: "2021-10-07" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/fauci-threats-wife-daughters-violence" categories: - "Future Society" tags: - "anthony fauci" - "coronavirus" - "covid19" - "fauci" - "the digest" --- # Fauci Says People Are Threatening His Wife and Daughters With Violence ![A new documentary sheds light on the abuse top infectious diseases specialist Anthony Fauci has had to endure since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.]() *\Image: Sarah Silbiger-Pool/Getty Images\* ## Abuse and Harassment A new [*National Geographic* documentary]() sheds light on the abuse top US infectious diseases specialist Anthony Fauci has had to endure since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. "These fucking dark web people are really, really getting bad," he told AIDS activist Peter Staley last year in the documentary, as [quoted by *Insider*](). "I mean, they're really, really harassing Chris," referring to his wife Christine Grady. Even his daughters were "constantly" targeted, according to Fauci. https://youtu.be/SwAF6sYb94s ## Empty Threats The documentary paints a grim picture of the most recent chapter in US history, a time when misinformation and extremist beliefs flourished — and those who furthered trustworthy and scientifically accurate information became the scapegoat. Things got so bad last summer that Fauci and his entire family were assigned personal security. Far-right extremists and conspiracy theorists were making serious threats while the Trump administration was [actively attempting to undermine him](). "One of them called up with violent threats like eight times today on \[Christine's\] cell phone, until she figured 'I gotta just change my cell phone,'" Fauci said in the documentary. ## Chemical Warfare Fauci was even sent a letter that opened with "a puff of powder." "It was on my shirt, my tie, my pants, my hands, and my chin," Fauci recalled. "The first thing I thought of was 'holy shit, why did I open up this letter?'" As a precaution, Fauci had to get naked and get hosed off, though the powder ultimately turned out to be a hoax. Fauci has dedicated his entire career to furthering the truth — but he's had to pay a steep price as a result. **READ MORE:** [Fauci rails against 'dark web people' harassing his wife and daughters with violent threats]() \[*Insider*\] **More on Fauci:** *[Fauci Wants To Know Why Three Virus Researchers in Wuhan Got Sick]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()