Vanessa Hudgens apologises for flippant coronavirus comments: 'This has been a huge wake-up call'

LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) — After Vanessa Hudgens went live on Instagram on Monday, her comments about the coronavirus went viral — the bad kind of viral.

Presumably in response to a question about the outbreak lasting into the summer, Hudgens said, "Yeah, til July sounds like a bunch of bulls---, I'm sorry. It's a virus, I get it. 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? I don't know, maybe I shouldn't be doing this right now," she said with a laugh.

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On Tuesday, Hudgens posted an Instagram story responding to the backlash. At the end of the story, which showed images of — among other things — Working Girl on her television, praise for the Los Angeles market Erewhon for reserving the hour between 6 and 7am for at-risk customers and her dog, Hudgens directly addressed her 38 million followers.

"Hey, guys," Hudgens said. "Yesterday I did an Instagram Live, and I realised today that some of my comments are being taken out of context. 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 that's what you guys are doing, too — in full quarantine! And staying safe and sane.

"Yeah, I don't take this situation lightly by any means," she added. "I am home. So stay inside, y'all."

Later on Twitter, she offered an actual apology, calling her comments "insensitive," and saying the response has been "a huge wake-up call."