(CNN) Actor Idris Elba has hit back at a "stupid" conspiracy theory that he and other celebrities are being paid to lie about their coronavirus diagnoses.

The British star, who revealed he had tested positive for the illness earlier this month , after being exposed to someone with coronavirus, slammed the suggestion as "absolute bullsh*t" in an Instagram Live broadcast Tuesday.

At a time when coronavirus testing has lagged in the United States, with even sick people in some areas unable to be tested, celebrities, athletes, politicians and other high-profile people have talked about testing positive, even without showing symptoms.

This disparity has led to anger and frustration -- something Elba addressed in his broadcast, saying he wants everyone to be able to be tested.

He also told his 4.7 million followers: "Test-shaming is, like, counterproductive. I don't see what people get out of that.

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