The college student who went viral after announcing the coronavirus pandemic would not keep him from partying during spring break has apologised.
Last week, Brady Sluder, from Ohio, told reporters in Miami, Florida: “If I get corona, I get corona. At the end of the day, I'm not gonna let it stop me from partying.
"We've been waiting for Miami spring break for a while. We're just out here having a good time. Whatever happens, happens."
The clip was widely shared on social media, with many suggesting attitudes like Sluder’s were to blame for the continued spread of the virus.
On Monday, The Cincinnati Enquirer first reported Sluder has since issued a public apology on Instagram, where he explained that he “wasn’t aware of the severity of my actions”.
“I would like to sincerely apologise for the insensitive comment I made in regards to Covid-19 while on spring break,” Sluder wrote. “I wasn’t aware of the severity of my actions and comments.
“I’d like to take this time to own up to the mistakes I’ve made and apologise to the people I’ve offended.”
Sluder also acknowledged the increased risk the virus poses to those who are older, explaining that he, too, has “elderly people who I adore more than anything in the world”.
"Like many others, I have elderly people who I adore more than anything in the world and other family members who are at risk, and I understand how concerning this disease is for us all,” he wrote.
According to Sluder, he made the comments when he felt “invincible,” a mindset he believes applied to much of his generation.
"Our generation may feel invincible, like I did when I commented," he continued. "But we have a responsibility to listen and follow the recommendations in our communities."
Adding that he will continue to “reflect and learn from this,” Sluder concluded: “I deeply apologise from the bottom of my heart for my insensitivity and unawareness of my actions.”
In the US, there have been more than 55,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus.
