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Clara Hill
Mar 17, 2021
It’s been exactly a year since Vanessa Hudgens played down fears about coronavirus in an infamous viral video.
The High School Musical star was branded “intensive” for saying “Like, yeah, people are gonna die” in a controversial Instagram Live last March.
Her comments came just days after coronavirus was was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation.
Since then, at least 2.6 million people have died after becoming infected with Covid-19.
In the original video, she said of having to go into lockdown: “Yeah, ‘til July sounds like a bunch of bulls***, I’m sorry.”
“But like, it’s a virus, I get it,” she added. “I respect it, but at the same time, like – even if everybody gets it... Like, yeah, people are gonna die. Which is terrible, but like, inevitable?”
She concluded: “I don’t know. Maybe I shouldn’t be doing this right now.”
The video was met with outrage, and she was forced to issue an apology for her comments.
Happy one year anniversary of the day I unfollowed Vanessa Hudgens on Instagram ❤️ https://t.co/vZY4o4GssI— Jeffrey Davies (@Jeffrey Davies) 1615944526
One year ago today Vanessa Hudgens declared her "respect" for COVID-19.— Ξvan Ross Katz (@Ξvan Ross Katz) 1615907315
happy(?) 1 year anniversary of this Vanessa Hudgens video https://t.co/WEeLaakpa3— grant👨🏻🦱 (@grant👨🏻🦱) 1615901530
She said on Twitter: “I’m so sorry for the way I have offended anyone and everyone who has seen the clip from my Instagram Live yesterday. I realise my words were insensitive and not all appropriate for the situation in our country and the world right now.”
“This has been a huge wake-up call about the significance my words have, now more than ever. I’m sending safe wishes to everyone to stay safe and healthy during this crazy time.”
Some Twitter users have even likened her ramblings to the approach of the US government under Donald Trump, who has been criticised for his neglectful and misinformation-heavy response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Throwback to when Vanessa hudgens said I see you covid I hear you covid I stand with you covid 😩😩🙌— sam (@sam) 1615946263
not vanessa hudgens accidentally creating the main covid policy for 2020 in this video https://t.co/cWweI50Qwb— i want to bailey-ve 🛸 (@i want to bailey-ve 🛸) 1615912543
One year ago Trump and Vanessa Hudgens had the same strategy to fight COVID19 https://t.co/07C3MI9mAW— David Chen (@David Chen) 1615906980
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