Bryan Adams has apologised after posting an expletive-laden Instagram rant about coronavirus that was branded “racist” and “irresponsible”.
The Canadian rock star posted on Monday 11 May: “Thanks to some bat eating, wet market animal selling, virus making greedy b******s, the whole world is now on hold.”
Adams also seemed angry about missing out on his three-night residency at London’s Royal Albert Hall, which was due to start on the night he posted his rant.
Last Friday, the World Health Organisation said a wet market in the central Chinese city of Wuhan had played a role in the coronavirus outbreak, either as the source or possibly as an “amplifying setting”. However, it stressed that more research on the link was necessary.
Among those to condemn Adams for his comments was Amy Go, president of the Chinese Canadian National Council for Social Justice.
She told CBC News: “This is so irresponsible and just so, so, so, so racist. People look up to public figures. He is seen as an idol by many.”
She added that she feared Adams’ comments would intensify “racist hatred against Chinese people.”
In his apology, Adams said there was “no excuse” for his comments.
“Apologies to any and all that took offence to my posting yesterday,” he wrote.
“No excuse, I just wanted to have a rant about the horrible animal cruelty in these wet markets being the possible source of the virus, and promote veganism.”
“I have love for all people and my thoughts are with everyone dealing with this pandemic around the world,” he continued.
The original post in which Adams made his rant is still on his Instagram account.
