Former Fox News host Bill O'Reilly sparked backlash online this week for saying that many of those who have died from the coronavirus “were on their last legs anyway.”

O’Reilly made the remark Wednesday during an appearance on Fox News host Sean Hannity Sean Patrick HannitySunday shows preview: Justice Ginsburg dies, sparking partisan battle over vacancy before election Cruz: Trump should nominate a Supreme Court justice next week Ex-Pence aide: Trump spent 45 minutes of task force meeting 'going off on Tucker Carlson' instead of talking coronavirus MORE’s radio program shortly after discussing lowered projections for coronavirus deaths in the U.S.

“Many people who are dying, both here and around the world, were on their last legs anyway," O'Reilly said. "And I don’t want to sound callous about that."

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“Hold on – you’re going to get hammered for that,” Hannity said.

“Well, I don’t care. I mean, a simple man tells the truth,” O’Reilly said.

Hannity said, “You mean people that have underlying conditions and compromised immune systems, any virus, you’re saying would’ve —”

"Yes, yes, and not only that, they were damaged,” O'Reilly added. “For example, one of the reasons the death rate in Italy and Spain is 10 times higher than in the United States, 10 times —"

“Age,” Hannity said.

According to a Washington Post analysis published Wednesday, more than 750 people under the age of 50 have died from the virus in the U.S.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said that older Americans, especially those who with underlying health conditions, are at a higher risk of dying if they contract COVID-19.

In a report released earlier this month, the CDC said more than 140 children with COVID-19 were reported hospitalized, including 15 who were admitted to an ICU. The agency added that “three deaths were reported among the pediatric cases” in its analysis.

O'Reilly later said in Wednesday's interview: “Well, you’re going to see the Centers for Disease Control, at the end of all this, say this percentage of people who died from the virus, also had other things that killed them.”

O’Reilly’s overall comments sparked a backlash on social media.

Trump doesn't like servicemen who were captured.



O'Reilly doesn't care about people who are on their last legs.



American conservatism today. — Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) April 9, 2020

Bill O'Reilly added, "I don't want to sound callous about that."



Too late. https://t.co/9hbvXqjD01 — Miranda Yaver (@mirandayaver) April 8, 2020

On Thursday morning, O'Reilly pushed back against the criticism in a tweet saying the “far-left wants chaos and carnage so President Trump Donald John TrumpUS reimposes UN sanctions on Iran amid increasing tensions Jeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Trump supporters chant 'Fill that seat' at North Carolina rally MORE will lose re-election.”

The pandemic is extremely deadly but not the Black Plague. Far-left wants chaos and carnage so President Trump will lose re-election. They are not interested in facts and will try to punish people who provide perspective.https://t.co/bO41JPJYCt — Bill O'Reilly (@BillOReilly) April 9, 2020

He also linked to a blog post he wrote slamming media sites for coverage of his controversial comments, titled: “Far-Left Smears My Analysis on Hannity's Radio Show.”