“Hamilton” creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda revealed on Twitter last Thursday that he’s battling a nasty case of the shingles.
Miranda wrote that what he had initially thought to be a migraine was actually shingles, and joked that he is quarantining himself from his month-old baby boy as a result.
Damn. I’ve got the worst migraine of my life right now.
Lemme get out of here, myrrh for my hot forehead, ow— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) April 4, 2018
Hey, cool story
This isn’t a migraine, it’s shingles!
Caught it early, quarantined away from the baby,
in a Phantom mask til further notice https://t.co/LkH8PvhRWh— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) April 5, 2018
Clearly, he’s not letting it get him down too much. He joked about having to wear a Phantom of the Opera mask and suffering from blurred vision:
Footage of me yesterday when I found out pic.twitter.com/03ItZgNrkv
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) April 5, 2018
Ophthalmologist has blurred my eyes good
Watch for great typos on this rwitrer fded all day— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) April 5, 2018
To which a slew of fans and friends replied with both concern and wit:
Available for duets while you have the mask anyway
— Emmy Rossum (@emmyrossum) April 5, 2018
Why does he tweet like he’s running out of time?
Tweet day and night like he’s running out of time?
Every time he tweets, he’s spelling out of rhyme,
Maybe he should gif, in the meantime.(Sorry, I’ll see myself out. ??)
— Aarrttee (@Arty_Artie) April 5, 2018
now ur speakimg my lanbgauge!!!
— jomny sun (@jonnysun) April 5, 2018
What will it take for you to get off here? I know this illness is painful yet dull and you love us and love chatting, but please rest your eyes if that’s doc’s orders. We’ll live without you for a bit. pic.twitter.com/vg10SsShzQ
— Martha Southgate (@mesouthgate) April 5, 2018
You are right Mothra. Love tou all off to bed https://t.co/WDbXBqiUFb
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) April 5, 2018
There was so much Twitter-generated concern for Miranda’s health that the Associated Press printed an article titled “Lin-Manuel Miranda has shingles, quarantined from baby son,” missing his “Phantom of the Opera mask” joke entirely.
PHOTO EDITOR: I need a photo of Lin-Manuel Miranda where he’s making a face that says “I’m quarantined from my baby son due to shingles.” pic.twitter.com/KQq99o2Boz
— Jesse McLaren (@McJesse) April 6, 2018
FYI: ALL of Twitter got the Phantom of the Opera mask joke ??♀️
— Mich (@decolover61) April 6, 2018
Bruhhhh why do you feel the need to report someone’s health issues to the public? This isn’t news. Celebrities are people, not something you can exploit.??
— kristina? (@KrispyEgg) April 6, 2018
As a result, the “Hamilton” creator was forced to issue a disclaimer the next day. “Things This Article Taught Me,” he wrote in reply to the AP tweet, “I can’t post jokes anywhere NEAR my health status, cuz they’ll be printed as fact. Sorry.”
“I’m fine. Not wearing a mask.”
“My eyes are fine, they were just dilated for the checkup, which is routine.”
“Staying at my folks’ house, up the street.”
Things This Article Taught Me:
I can’t post jokes anywhere NEAR my health status, cuz they’ll be printed as fact. Sorry.
I’m fine. Not wearing a mask.?
My eyes are fine, they were just dilated for the checkup, which is routine.
Staying at my folks’ house, up the street. https://t.co/HlhmnTqTMD— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) April 6, 2018
Miranda concluded with a joke:
Besides, they don’t make lefty Phantom masks, so this is hella awkward pic.twitter.com/h3MyismcaZ
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) April 6, 2018