Vanessa Hudgens is trending today—not because of her viral “High School Musical” TikTok with Ashley Tisdale, but because her tone-deaf take on the 2019 novel coronavirus.
During an Instagram Live, a fan asked Hudgens when she’ll go back to London. “When is anyone going anywhere is the real question,” she replied. “How long is this sh*t going to last? I don’t know. I predict a month. Someone today said six weeks. But I feel like after that it’ll be fine.”
Hudgens later reacted to a reply that mentioned that lockdowns might end in July. “Um, yeah, ’til July sounds like a bunch of bullsh*t,” she said. “I’m sorry. But like, it’s a virus. I get it. Like, I respect it, but at the same time, even if everybody gets it… Like, yeah, people are gonna die—which is terrible. But like, inevitable?”
Fans took to Twitter to express their disappointment and disgust towards Hudgens’ comments.
Vanessa Hudgens' career will be dead after posting this. It's like inevitable. 💀 pic.twitter.com/qYX2DMFjJ2
— Chris Burke (@chrisburke) March 17, 2020
vanessa hudgens on ig complaining about coachella getting cancelled & saying why does it matter this virus will kill people while ashley tisdale is on ig making quarantine dance videos proves what we’ve always known: sharpay was the true protagonist/hero of high school musical
— asami sato updates (@queerelladevil) March 17, 2020
watching that video of vanessa hudgens talking about coronavirus pic.twitter.com/tekb2ZD4w2
— kathleen (@kathleen_hanley) March 17, 2020
The actress later apologized on Instagram Stories, saying that her statement was taken out of context. “It’s a crazy time. It’s a crazy, crazy time, and I am at home and on lockdown. And that’s what I hope you guys are doing too. In full quarantine and staying safe and sane. Yeah, I don’t take this situation lightly by any means. I am home. So stay inside, y’all.”
She also posted a statement on Twitter, saying, “I’m so sorry for the way I have offended anyone and everyone who has seen the clip from my Instagram Live yesterday. I realize my words were insensitive and not at all appropriate for the situation our country and the world are in right now.”
— Vanessa Hudgens (@VanessaHudgens) March 17, 2020
It seems like tone-deaf responses and reactions from celebrities and influencers are becoming more common amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Yesterday, Mar. 17, Filipino blogger Cat Arambulo received backlash for posting an Instagram Stories video where she called workers “motherf*ckers” because they weren’t staying home. (As if it was the citizens’ fault that they needed to work to make ends meet and because their companies still required them to show up.)
"God why don't you motherf*ckers just stay at home"
she said to WORKERS BEING ARRESTED while watching her 52 inch TV SAFE AND SECURE at home.
fkn text INFLUENCERS STOP and SEND to 8080!!!
ang kakapal nyo hoy. wala KAMING PERA AT SEGURIDAD TULAD NYO https://t.co/zpSleFevId pic.twitter.com/mH4m3WXpJM
— OUST. DUTERTE. NOW #FreeJosephCanlas ✨🙃✊ (@darnitJC) March 17, 2020
Arambulo later apologized with two Twitter statements and an Instagram Stories video.
Namaste 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/4tdSM03tYG
— Cat Arambulo-Antonio (@catarambulo_com) March 17, 2020
I’M SO SORRY.😭 pic.twitter.com/S4irHDWKqy
— Cat Arambulo-Antonio (@catarambulo_com) March 18, 2020
Aside from social distancing, we all need to learn how to recognize our privilege and be more empathetic.
Photo courtesy of Vanessa Hudgens’ Instagram account
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