Note: This post has been moved from Latest Picks due to length of extended updates.
Coronavirus: Vanessa Hudgens sorry for ‘people are going to die’ comments (bbc.co.uk).
The High School Musical star told fans: “Even if everybody gets it, like yeah, people are going to die, which is terrible… but inevitable?”
She first said her comments were taken out of context, the actor now says her words were “not at all appropriate”.
Adding that “This has been a huge wake up call”, with her comments seemingly in reply to Orange Don’s coronavirus announcement that the pandemic could stretch into July and August, and seemingly just as ill informed prior to his reverse ferret (yourdictionary.com) declaration that it is indeed now a crisis, with Nessa live gramming that:
“Until July sounds like a bunch of…” she said, adding: “It’s a virus, I get it, I respect it.”
With her comments seemingly akin to the keep-calm-and-carry-on building up herd immunity much criticised mitigation strategy of scenario 1 in the Uk (theguardian.com) that has now been replaced by the self-isolation and lockdown suppression of scenario 2 when the number crunching estimated an inevitable 260,000 deaths.
And so was soon equally stroking her own reversed ferret after being reminded that opinions are indeed like arseholes, with everyone having one but it perhaps prudent not to show all on social media you have your finger or thumb up yours:
After her comments started to circulate on Twitter, the actor/singer got back on Instagram to clarify.
“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,” she told her 38.4 million followers.
“I don’t take this situation lightly, by any means, I am home.”
Coronavirus: US cities put into lockdown as COVID-19 cases worldwide overtake China (news.sky.com).
New York’s mayor has ordered restaurants, bars and cafes to only sell food on a takeaway or delivery basis as the city battles to halt the spread of COVID-19.
Bill de Blasio also moved to close nightclubs, cinemas, theatres and concert venues.
Updated 19th March 2020
And while in Blighty BoJo said it is possible “send coronavirus packing in this country (theguardian.com), but only if we all take the steps we have outlined” while stressing that tougher measures such as shutting down cities remained only a possibility despite adherence of social distancing rules being “very patchy”, as demonstrated by Keith Lemon snapped having a pint in a Primrose Hill pub despite his coronavirus symptoms forcing Celebrity Juice to shut down (thesun.co.uk), stateside at least one celeb has not been as apologetic with the only thing “inevitable” being an attempt to deprive her of her freedom:
Avengers star Evangeline Lily outrages fans after refusing to self-isolate because she ‘values freedom’ and dismisses coronavirus as ‘respiratory flu’ (dailymail.co.uk).
‘Some people value their lives over freedom, some people value freedom over their lives. We all make our choices,’ the Lost actress responded pointedly within the comments section of her post, clearly making her stance on the world’s reaction to the pandemic known.
And adamant about exercising her “freedom”, stressing things were #businessasusual with a post saying she had just dropped my kids off at gymnastics camp while at least stating they had all washed their hands and after her post proved much “irresponsible” ire revealing that her elderly father with stage four leukemia is currently living with her and that she is “immune compromised at the moment” and that:
‘Where we are right now feels a lot too close to Marshall Law [sic] for my comfort already, all in the name of a respiratory flu,’ Evangeline wrote in another comment.
‘It’s unnerving…Let’s be vigilant right now. And kind. Watchful and gracious—keeping a close eye on our leaders, making sure they don’t abuse this moment to steal away more freedoms and grab more power.’
The actress who considers herself an environmentalist and who shaved her head on Instagram late last year and who recently confessed to having a “rough year” with regards her mental health (today.com) sounding more like she was donning a pair of conspiracy dungarees in concern Deep state are coming to take away her assault rife:
In yet another comment, Evangeline went so far as to fuel a conspiracy theory that the coronavirus might actually be orchestrated by the government since we’re ahead of a presidential election.
‘There’s ‘something’ every election year,’ Lilly—who was born in Canada—wrote.
Gov. Gavin Newsom orders all Californians to stay at home (latimes.com).
Officials hope telling people to remain in their homes and restrict social interactions will slow the spread of the virus and ultimately prevent hospitals from being overrun with sick patients. The request for all residents to stay at home marks the strongest escalation of the Newsom administration’s response to the virus.
Updated 21st March 2020
Coronavirus: Social distancing enforced globally (bbc.co.uk).
Death toll passes 11,000, confirmed cases pass 275,000; nearly 90,000 recovered
And with pubs, clubs, gyms, cafes and restaurant yesterday ordered to close in Britain yesterday (theguardian.com) and stateside makeup maven Kylie Jenner giving tips on what to do to not get bored while self isolating (eonline.com) in response to the Surgeon General asking influencers to help young people understand the severity:
While other attempts to enlist the help of entertainers during the snowballing public health crisis invariably led only to ridicule:
Celebrity nonsense is at an all-time high during the coronavirus pandemic (buzzfeednews.com).
With Gal Gadot, Will Ferrell, Kristen Wiig, Mark Ruffalo, Sia and an assortment of others decided to sing John Lennon’s “Imagine” in a supercut clip Gadot posted on Instagram, with reaction on Twitter “pretty unanimous”—which should really surprise none considering the reaction on anything of those on toxic Twitter regards its now more popular platform brother resembles the bullying of of a jealous older sibling.
“No politician can unify people in the way that ‘Imagine’ video seems to have united every single person against it,” the comedian Josh Gondelman observed.
With no doubt meme after meme of #cringeface being posted.
The swift ridicule of Gadot and her famous friends’ attempt at uplifting the masses speaks to the very tricky position that celebrities have found themselves in during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. What is the role of the entertainer in a snowballing public health crisis? It seems hard to determine.
Although on social media that role for social media users is seemingly nothing more than to be recipient of a gladiatorial lifestyle choice thumbs up or cancelled culture thumbs down whether it singing “Imagine” with no make up or partaking in whatever the latest Banana Sprite Ice Bucket Planking Condom Challenge. And if the role is to encourage to be like them during the crisis with snaps of them playing board games or binge watching Westworld while self-isolated in the grandiose den of their mansions with no shortage of treats or bog role requires more suspension of disbelief than many can perhaps muster:
At their best, celebrities can actually use their massive platforms to champion the messaging from public health officials, amplify charities doing good work, and spur personal action. But at their worst, they highlight the deeply entrenched inequalities in our country. The kind of trite, feel-good sing-along videos that might have seemed like harmless silliness a month ago suddenly feel like adding insult to injury. And right now, we’re all just trying to get better.
Updated 22nd March 2020
And to ensure his name and constant pointless bickering with his brother continue to be heard, loutish former Oasis turned Beady Eye frontman Liam Gallagher donned a Mancunian pair of conspiracy dungarees under his ever present parka for his audience, after weighing in that on whether BoJo will be able to stop “p**sheads” going down the pub during the crisis (dailystar.co.uk) having self-isolated due to recent diagnosis of thyroid attacking, autoimmune disorder Hashimoto’s disease (metro.co.uk):
Liam Gallagher says ‘c**ts are up to something’ amid coronavirus measures (dailystar.co.uk).
Witnessed by his 3.2million followers, he wrote: “I’ll wash my hands and stay indoors and all that b******s, but I’m still not having it snide c**ts are up to something and we’ll get to the bottom of it, as you were LG x.”
Along with acapella re-workings of his Oasis songs, such as “Soap-ersonic”, “Champagne Soap-ernova” and “Wonderwash”.As to what the something the “snide c**ts” may be up do he did elaborate but likely with fans considering whether he is hinting at a weaponised pathogen accidentally or deliberately set loose by some mad Malthusian cultists to trigger the catastrophe to return the population to a lower level (Wikipedia) or just another attempt to force the “now or never“ Oasis reunion (news.sky.com, Feb. 2020).
And disgraced and recently sentenced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein has tested positive for coronavirus in prison (Blog, updated 22nd March 2020).
Next page: Cardi B shares wild coronavirus theory claiming celebrities are being paid to test positive and wants a slice of that paycheck pie herself, British-Sri Lankan rapper M.I.A comes out as an avid anti-vaxxer stating she would ‘choose death’ over getting a coronavirus vaccination, Madonna has a post labeled “False Information” on Instagram and virus mocking rapper Doja Cat had to eat humble pie after being forced to cancel tour after contracting the virus.