The coronavirus is a highly contagious disease that puts a lot of vulnerable people at risk. As millions of people around the world isolate themselves in their homes, it’s also leading to some frayed nerves, and some people maybe saying things they shouldn’t.
Take the example of Lost and The Hobbit star Evangeline Lily, who last week posted a…let’s call it “eyebrow-raising”…message to her Instagram:
"Just dropped my kids off at gymnastics camp. They all washed their hands before going in. They are playing and laughing. #businessasusual"
Okay, so this is…I’m trying to find non-confrontational language and the best I can do is “obnoxious.” She’s not only flaunting CDC recommendations to stay inside lest you either catch or spread this virus to people who aren’t prepared to deal with it, she clearly wants everyone to know that’s what she’s doing.
And then, when commenters predictably pointed out that her actions were pretty selfish and potentially dangerous, she decided to double down. “Some people value their lives over freedom, some people value freedom over their lives,” Lily wrote. “We all make our choices … where we are right now feels a lot too close to Marshall Law for my comfort already, all in the name of a respiratory flu.”
Alright, first of all, I’ll point out that if you can drive your kids to gymnastics camp and then brag about it online with a picture of a teacup, you’re probably a ways off from martial law. And to dismiss a virus that is racking up thousands of deaths around the world as “respiratory flu” is…and again I’m having trouble finding polite language.
Maybe I’ll let Sophie Turner speak for me. The Game of Thrones star spoke out on Instagram Live alongside husband Joe Jonas, and didn’t mince words:
"Stay inside. Don’t be f—ing stupid. Even if you count your – [does air quotes] ‘freedom over … your health.’ I don’t give a f— about your freedom. You could be infecting other people, other vulnerable people around you by doing this. So stay inside guys! It’s not cool, it’s not big, and it’s not clever. And that’s the tea."
Queen in the North.
Turner’s Game of Thrones castmate Maisie Williams (Arya Stark) is also firmly in the “please exercise some basic logic and empathy” camp:
it’s literally not about us - kinda annoying but wtvr 😭jk - it’s about our aunts & uncles, our parents & grandparents, it’s about the immunocompromised, it’s about our beloved nhs that will become overrun worse than we’ve ever seen before
— Maisie Williams (@Maisie_Williams) March 23, 2020
please be selfless #StayAtHomeSaveLives
Nathalie Emmanuel (Missandei) is also going at it pretty hard:
Okay UK we need to fix UP!!! What are you doing still gathering like people aren’t DYING? The longer you ignore guidelines the longer this goes on. People can’t work or be paid, kids can’t learn, you can’t buy basic supplies!?!?! Your selfish ignorance & stupidity hurts us all!
— Nathalie Emmanuel (@missnemmanuel) March 23, 2020
Carice van Houten (Melisandre) has a simple message for people:
And Pilou Asbæk (Euron Greyjoy) sent good vibes to people living in one of the hardest-hit countries to date:
Italy ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ 🙏🏻
— Pilou Asbaek (@PilouAsbaek) March 20, 2020
Basically just listen to Game of Thrones veterans and we’ll be fine.
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