Now that social distancing is our new normal (opens in new tab), your fave celebs are finding creative ways to stay connected to their fans. Vanessa Hudgens is a prime example; see: her High School Musical TikTok (opens in new tab) video. But instead of continuing to make goofy videos or chatting with her followers to spread hope in this confusing time, Vanessa decided to make insensitive comments about COVID-19—a virus that's been named a pandemic and continues to claim lives around the world.
On Monday, Vanessa hopped on Instagram Live saying, "Um, yeah. 'Til July sounds like a bunch of bullshit, I'm sorry. It's a virus, I get it, I respect it, but at the same time...even if everybody gets it, yeah...people are gonna die which is terrible, but inevitable. I don't know, maybe I shouldn't be doing this right now."
What a horrible and heartless message for you to share with the younger people who look up to you @VanessaHudgens https://t.co/p0vIekdigPMarch 17, 2020
Naturally, her comments received a lot of backlash online. In response, one Twitter user penned, "Hi, @VanessaHudgens, I am not calling for your cancellation or anything, but this type of dismissiveness is what is going to get your nana and pawpaw killed. And maybe your parents. Please tell your followers that you were wrong and they need to stay home." (This was on the nicer end of the backlash spectrum.)
Some of the angrier comments, included:
To do some damage control, Vanessa went on her Instagram Story to issue a response.
2. @VanessaHudgens says her remarks in the video above have been taken out of context?! She doesn’t explain how she believes her remarks were taken out of context. She adds that everyone should stay in their homes. pic.twitter.com/7CfodhkcEbMarch 17, 2020
"Hey guys, so yesterday I did an Instagram Live, and I realized today that some of my comments are being taken out of context. It's a crazy time. It's a crazy crazy time, and I am at home and in lockdown, and that's what I hope you guys are doing too and full quarantine and staying safe and sane," she said. "Yeah, I don't take this situation lightly by any means. I am home. So stay inside y'all."
The followup didn't help matters since it lacked an actual apology. So Vanessa whipped out the good ol' Notes App to truly say sorry, acknowledging that her initial comments were wrong. She wrote:
pic.twitter.com/Mjw6qJ5bETMarch 17, 2020
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