Everyone is reacting to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic in their own way. It’s a confusing, frustrating, and difficult time for so many people all around the world. However, last week, most people were able to unite together in their unhappiness with how Evangeline Lilly was treating the outbreak. But now, almost two weeks later, the actress has offered up her apology for what many believe was a dangerous message.
READ MORE: Evangeline Lilly Isn’t Self-Isolating & Suggests COVID-19 Is An Election Year Stunt
For those that don’t remember, Lilly gained headlines when she posted a picture on Instagram with the caption about how she was still leaving the house during social distancing and how her kids were washing their hands, but that her life is #BusinessAsUsual. Then, in subsequent comments and replies to people upset by her post, the actress talked about how she values personal freedom over her own life.
She also went so far as to say that perhaps the pandemic panic was an election year stunt and that folks need to watch out for the government using COVID-19 “to steal away more freedoms and grab more power.”
But now, the actress understands that her words were probably not the best and she’s here to admit she handled it wrong.
Lilly began by explaining why she posted the seemingly defiant post before, saying (emphasis is hers, not ours), “At the time of my Mar 16th post, the directives from the authorities here were that we not congregate in groups of more than 250ppl and that we wash our hands regularly, which we were doing. Two days later, those directives changed and, despite my intense trepidation over the socioeconomic and political repercussions of this course of action, PLEASE KNOW I AM DOING MY PART TO FLATTEN THE CURVE, PRACTICING SOCIAL DISTANCING AND STAYING HOME WITH MY FAMILY.”
Ultimately, however, the actress realizes that her post didn’t come across as she intended and apologized, saying, “I want to offer my sincere and heartfelt apology for the insensitivity I showed in my previous post to the very real suffering and fear that has gripped the world through COVID19. Grandparents, parents, children, sisters and brothers are dying, the world is rallying to find a way to stop this very real threat, and my ensuing silence has sent a dismissive, arrogant and cryptic message.”
She continued, “My direct and special apologies to those most affected by this pandemic. I never meant to hurt you. When I wrote that post 10 days ago, I thought I was infusing calm into the hysteria. I can see now that I was projecting my own fears into an already fearful and traumatic situation.”
With the US quickly becoming the epicenter of the entire global pandemic, with thousands and thousands of new coronavirus cases being diagnosed daily, it’s good to know that Lilly has grasped the full gravity of the situation.
Here’s Lilly’s full post on Instagram: