Chrissy Teigen Defends Vanessa Hudgens After Coronavirus Remarks: 'She Is Learning Now and That’s All You Can Ask For'

Alyssa Bailey
·6 min read
Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

From ELLE

A clip of Vanessa Hudgens insensitively talking about the coronavirus went viral yesterday, drawing criticism because of the tone-deaf way Hudgens spoke about the virus's possible impact. Hudgens posted an apology video on her Instagram Story and a Note post on her Twitter, but the internet wasn't impressed. Chrissy Teigen took to Twitter to defend Hudgens and encourage people not to cancel and attack someone so relentlessly when he or she has "a dumb fuckin moment."

"This isn’t about me this time," Teigen wrote. "But it will be one day, or it’ll be you. But yeah today it’s Vanessa lol."

Hudgens, for reference, got heat for saying during an Instagram Live that reports about the virus lasting until July "sounds like a bunch of bullshit, I’m sorry. It’s a virus, I get it. I respect it."

“But at the same time, like, even if everybody gets it—like, yeah, people are gonna die. Which is terrible. But, like, inevitable?" she continued. "I don’t know, maybe I shouldn’t be doing this right now,” she finished with a laugh.

Hudgens first claimed on her Instagram Story that her comments were taken out of context. But shortly after on Twitter, she posted a formal apology. It said:

Hey guys. I'm so sorry for the way I have offended anyone and everyone who has seen the clip from yesterday. I realize my words are insensitive and not at all appropriate for the situation our country and the world are in right now. This has been a huge wake up call about the significance my words have, now more than ever. I'm sending safe wishes to everyone to stay safe and healthy during this crazy time.

That wasn't enough for many people in her comments. So Teigen tweeted about the situation and her own experience being canceled.

"Sometimes people, especially famous people, are gonna say really stupid shit," she started. "And so are you. And they, and u, will learn from it & hopefully their history says they’re good. It’s ok. And at the same time, wow they really had a dumb fuckin moment. But u don’t have ruin their lives. This isn’t about me this time. But it will be one day, or it’ll be you. But yeah today it’s Vanessa lol. And no, life is rarely ruined for anyone. But you are damn well trying your best. Just stop."

Teigen agreed with a user who pointed out celebs should be more careful with what they say given their platforms. "Totally!" Teigen wrote. "But we all have stupid moments and some people (like me) have a lot of passion and things don’t come out the way we mean it. I honestly have gotten so much better at taking my time and thinking before I write/speak though."

Teigen added, "Yeah she said something really dumb and it sucks and she for sure feels terrible and just stop watching her stuff but the knives gotta go."

"I’m getting a lot of 'but Chrissy!!!'" Teigen continued, addressing the criticism pointed at her for speaking out. "No! No but! Stop stabbing!! be better, this is a weird weird world."

When someone suggested they not stab Hudgens but give her a little poke to be better because her commentary was so insensitive, Teigen said, "Definitely agree it was. But we have all said insensitive shit. Or maybe im just the only other one? But I promise promise promise I learned and she is learning now and that’s all you can ask for."

Teigen pointed out that people will criticize anything, whether it's a written apology or a celeb saying they were out of context. "Apologies from the heart are 'COOL you publicist did@this fuck YOU!!'"

She added, "'Apologize the way you want me to' is not it. Just personally, in your heart and remote, cancel them if you’re truly mad. Writing them over and over, the onslaught, it can drive a sane person insane and an unstable person to...worse."

Why was Teigen so extensively defending Hudgens and speaking out against cancel culture? She explained in her final two tweets on the matter: "What can I say. Kids and online torture have made me a much more empathetic person. May you never be on the end of everyone hating you."

"You are not gonna talk me into not forgiving people’s mistakes," she finished. "It makes me clear and makes me happy and I’m gonna be happy. You wanna be angry online all fuckin day, go for it."

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