Evangeline Lilly finally apologizes for her insensitive coronavirus comments

Ant-Man star Evangeline Lilly is finally apologizing for her insensitive comments about the COVID-19 pandemic. The actor caused a controversy on social media when she posted on March 16 that she and her family would continue to operate in a ‘business as usual’ manner even though people around the world were being advised to stay home in an effort to flatten the curve. Now Lilly is apologizing for her tone deaf comments.Earlier this month, Lilly shared a picture of a tea cup and wrote “Just dropped my kids off at gymnastics camp. They all washed their hands before going in. They are playing and laughing,” hash tagging the post with #businessasusual. The actor was accused by her followers of acting irresponsibly and doubled down on her bad choices in the comments section, revealing that her father lives with her and is immunocompromised with stage four leukemia. “I am also immune compromised at the moment. I have two young kids. Some people value their lives over freedom, some people value freedom over their lives. We all make our choices,” wrote Lilly. *Facepalm.*It wasn’t just people on her Instagram who had a tough time mentally distancing themselves from Lilly’s comments. Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner appeared to be referencing Lilly’s comments when she and husband Joe Jonas shared their thoughts on the pandemic during a March 20 Instagram Live. “Stay inside. Don’t be f***ing stupid. Even if you count your ‘freedom over your health.’ I don’t give a f*** about your freedom. You could be infecting other people, other vulnerable people around you by doing this. So stay inside guys!,” said Turner.Lilly’s former Lost co-star Maggie Grace also responded to Lilly’s post. Us Weekly reported that Grace wrote, “Sure, it’s a free country, but how about choosing to exercise some of that wonderful freedom to have some compassion, trust the extensive science here and not overwhelm health system.” Grace also referenced the pair’s Lost co-star Daniel Dae Kim, who has tested positive for COVID-19.On March 26, Lilly posted an apology and appears to have finally fully comprehended the severity of the situation. Sharing a picture of her family playing Monopoly, Lilly says that she and her family have been physically distancing since March 18, two days after her initial post. “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,” writes Lilly, who says that those directives changed two days later and she and her family decided to stay home.

 

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Hello everyone. I am writing you from my home where I have been social distancing since Mar 18th – when social distancing was instituted in the small community where I am currently living. 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. 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. 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. I am grieved by the ongoing loss of life, and the impossible decisions medical workers around the world must make as they treat those affected. I am concerned for our communities – small businesses and families living paycheck-to-paycheck – and I am trying to follow responsible recommendations for how to help. Like many of you, I fear for the political aftermath of this pandemic, and I am praying for us all. At the same time, I am heartened by the beauty and humanity I see so many people demonstrating toward one another in this vulnerable time. When I was grappling with my own fears over social distancing, one kind, wise and gracious person said to me “do it out of love, not fear” and it helped me to realize my place in all of this. Sending love to all of you, even if you can’t return it right now. EL

A post shared by Evangeline Lilly (@evangelinelillyofficial) on Mar 26, 2020 at 1:29pm PDT

“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,” continues Lilly, adding “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.” Lilly says her initial message was intended to ‘infuse calm into the hysteria,’ but sees now that she was actually projecting her own fears.“I am grieved by the ongoing loss of life, and the impossible decisions medical workers around the world must make as they treat those affected. I am concerned for our communities – small businesses and families living paycheck-to-paycheck – and I am trying to follow responsible recommendations for how to help,” writes Lilly. “At the same time, I am heartened by the beauty and humanity I see so many people demonstrating toward one another in this vulnerable time. When I was grappling with my own fears over social distancing, one kind, wise and gracious person said to me “do it out of love, not fear” and it helped me to realize my place in all of this.”Lilly’s apology appears to be heartfelt and sincere, but it may be too little too late for her bosses. According to some rumours, Lilly’s March 16 post pushed Marvel to reduce the Canadian actor's role in the upcoming Ant-Man 3.[video_embed id='1926989']RELATED: Sophie Turner blasts Evangeline Lilly over not self-isolating[/video_embed]