Everyone seems to be self-quarantining during this Coronavirus outbreak to try and avoid catching it. There are some people, however, who aren’t doing that, and Ant-Man star Evangeline Lilly is one of those people. While it’s her right to do as she pleases, a very vocal group of people have criticized the actress, some even suggesting that she lose her role as Hope Van Dyne in the MCU.
Here’s the post that started it all:
After some backlash, Lilly wrote:
“I think we all need to slow down, take a breath and look at the facts we are being presented with. They do not add up to the all-out, global lockdown, control, pandemoniac and insanity we are experiencing. I hope that people will find their peace and sanity where you are soon. Sending you loving prayers.”
In another comment, she dismissed COVID-19 as a respiratory flu, and said she is living with her father who has Stage 4 cancer.
“I bet we would completely agree on what we want and what we are trying to avoid, and then would challenge each other thoughtfully about how to achieve that. I’m having those conversations daily with people in my inner circle and am always considering and reconsidering my position. Where we are right now feels a lot too close to Marshall Law [sic] for my comfort already, all in the name of a respiratory flu. It’s unnerving.”
She added:
“I am living with my father at the moment, who has stage four leukemia. I am also immune-compromised at the moment. I have two young kids. Some people value their lives over freedom, some people value freedom over their lives. We all make our choices. With love and respect.”
She then said:
“There’s ‘something’ every election year.”
Marvel actress Evangeline Lilly refuses to self-quarantine amid coronavirus:
“Some people value freedom over their lives” pic.twitter.com/iIEm4UVEAx
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) March 19, 2020
And the comments have not been kind – with some demanding that Marvel fire her for her comments.
Marvel, fire Evangeline Lilly. That stupid bitch is saying that the virus is a hoax and is putting everyone in danger with that huge lie. Look at her Instagram.
— NCISLAFAN (@McGoozzo) March 20, 2020
@Marvel is gonna fire Evangeline Lilly, right? This is unacceptable and the entire fandom should be mad at this reckless and dangerous behavior. https://t.co/62nQkIMr0d
— The ADRIELorian 🏳️🌈 (@AdrielLAlgiene) March 19, 2020
And just like that Evangeline Lilly is no longer the Wasp because she values herself over others.
Bye Bye @EvangelineLilly pic.twitter.com/mrlywjMHhZ
— PJ 🏳️🌈 (@petrinajc) March 19, 2020
Paul Rudd the next time Evangeline Lilly comes hear him: pic.twitter.com/MTkVSAWc7L
— botoxed camel (@mccbumgarner) March 19, 2020
It wasn’t much better on Instagram (comments are verbatim):
- Omg. She is cancelled. Tomorrow, she finds out MARVEL fires her from any further appearance in the MCU. Next week, no studio hires her. In a fortnight, she is finally over.
- I’ll never watch anything of yours ever again. You’ve proven not to support your community so why should anyone support you?
- Oh the privilege… yup your right you have the freedom to be an idiot.
- stop being ignant your actions effect others, people are dying
- Please give your opinions about choosing freedom to those who have lost someone they love to this virus or someone who is out of work. Completely inappropriate.
These are very tense times with most people out of work and being forced to stay in, so that’s probably part of the reason why people are getting so angry. This isn’t the first time that there has been backlash to a celebrity opinion amid this Coronavirus controversy, as a video posted yesterday from Gal Gadot with celebrities covering “Imagine” by John Lennon was universally hated on.
Evangeline Lilly has yet to make another post on social media regarding this, but if there’s an update on the situation we’ll let you know. A lot of times when there is backlash, however, stars take a break to let it die down, so perhaps that is what she will do. In the meantime, be sure to stay safe, everyone.