Evangeline Lilly has apologised for her “arrogant, dismissive and cryptic” coronavirus comments, assuring fans that she is “doing her part”.
The Lost and Ant-Man actor sparked outrage last week (16 March) after announcing she had no intention of self-isolating during the pandemic, claiming that she valued her “freedom”.
She has now said that her initial comments came from a place of fear.
“I am writing [to] you from my home where I have been social distancing since 18 March – when social distancing was instituted in the small community where I am currently living,” Lilly wrote in the lengthy statement.
“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.”
She continued, “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 Covid-19.
“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 added that she “never meant to hurt” those most affected by the pandemic, and that she thought her message was “infusing calm into the hysteria”.
Lilly’s original comments, in which she suggested the US government were taking too much control over simple “respiratory flu”, were condemned by stars including Sophie Turner and Lilly’s former Lost co-star Maggie Grace.
Daniel Dae Kim, who portrayed Jin on the long-running mystery series with Lilly, recently tested positive for coronavirus.
