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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Verity Sulway

Gemma Collins bid to get fans spending in coronavirus crisis met with fierce backlash

Gemma Collins has infuriated her followers by imploring them to just go shopping amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The TOWIE star filmed a video marching through a shopping centre, moaning that it was empty and urging everyone to get on with their daily lives as normal.

But her unimpressed fans have reminded her the virus could be deadly for vulnerable people, and scolded her for being selfish.

Walking through the shopping centre, Gemma, 39, says: "Right guys I've taken to the gram, I'm in the west end, it's dead.

"I'm urging everybody to keep calm and carry on.

"Lets get back in the shops, lets get back living our daily basis.

"Everything is grinding to a halt, and I'm feeling a little bit concerned."

"We must keep POSITIVE ... we must keep going we can’t let the economy crash because of a virus ... we must be strong and carry on !!!

"Wash your hands and carry on ! Let’s keep living ... I am partial to Knightsbridge fever my favorite fever !! "

Her fans reminded her that she was in a privileged position, but could easily spread to virus to someone who could die from it.

Gemma posted holiday snaps as she refused to let the coronavirus affect her plans (Gemma Collins/Instagram)

"Always been a fan but think you are speaking irresponsibly going against what we have seen in other countries and are being warned against by experts, you can do what you like but you know you influence people and are actually putting them at risk," wrote one.

"I love you Gemma but I strongly disagree with you. HEALTH should be the n. 1 concern, not economy.

"I am in Milan and I know very well what I’m talking about. Uk will be next and you have a big responsibility not to send the wrong message to your followers. This is VERY serious.

"Hospitals are full and doctors have to decide who they can save and who to let die, if people keep spreading out, the virus will too!" added another.

Alongside the video she made some ill-advised jokes about the virus, which has killed around 5,000 people worldwide, ten of them in the UK. A third penned: "She obviously don’t have a dodgy immune system and copd I’ll stick to shopping from home".
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