Celebrities

Woman named 'Corona' explains the abuse she's received during the pandemic

Woman named 'Corona' explains the abuse she's received during the pandemic
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Having an unusual name is not the easiest, but having the same name as a global pandemic is even harder.

Corona Newton, originally from Ireland but now lives Oldham, she said that the usual stick she got about her name had gotten significantly worse during the pandemic. She told the BBC that people would give her beer-related nicknames, such as Guinness or Budweiser. The origin of Corona’s name actually comes from the Spanish word for crown.

But recently she said, "People have said to me 'as if I'm going to listen to somebody named after a virus'."

She also explains how someone called her to shout down the phone: "What does it feel like to [do] the world over?"

The civil servant also explained that when she went to buy clothes the shop assistants "fell over laughing" after she told them what her name was.

She continued: "It got worse over the next few months, I went to a parents' evening with my daughter and she introduced me to her teacher, which is when her teacher went white and started backing up," she said.

Other people have shared similar experiences having names that caused global problems.

Some names that cause less destruction but more confusion.

On a more lighthearted note, Newton added that her name not only gives her free drinks by playing "guess my name" with strangers but that her daughter finds it funny.

"My daughter thinks it's hilarious, she can't get enough of telling people my name. We understand the virus isn't funny, but the virus has the same name as me, and if it just gives someone a little comic relief then I'm happy to put it out there," she said.

As the virus continues to affect large parts of the world and Corona's name is still strongly connected to it, she's taking it in stride and accepts that what was once just an unusual name has taken a life of its own now.

MORE: The bizarre ways my smell and taste changed after Covid-19

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