Coronavirus pandemic: Miley Cyrus, Dua Lipa and Ariana Grande among celebs calling for unity, love amid virus scare
Following the measures being taken by health organizations and governments worldwide, more and more people are opting to stay indoors and practicing social distancing. The entertainment world has also taken the situation very seriously as celebrities have been announcing show cancellations and have urged people to stay indoors.
Lady Gaga announced that she would be self-quarantining with her dogs, choosing not to visit her mother and grandmothers and infect them in case she has caught the virus herself. The singer said, "It’s not the easiest for everyone right now but the kindest/ healthiest thing we can do is self-quarantine and not hang out with people over 65 and in large groups."
Dua Lipa has also urged people to take care of themselves, tweeting "Thinking of you all during this difficult and confusing time. Stay safe, wash ur hands, be with your loved ones and most importantly remember and think of the ones less fortunate than you." She further stated, "Refugees are some of the most vulnerable on this planet, often living in crowded places with limited health services. UN agencies are working hard to make sure these people are supported," adding "I know during this difficult time some of you might not be able to donate to the UNHCR emergency appeal but if you can it really makes a difference to protect refugees and their host communities from COVID-19. Love" and including a link to donate.
Miley Cyrus has also jumped in to ask people to be thoughtful when stocking up supplies. She posted to Instagram, "Be thoughtful. Respectful. Compassionate. HUMAN, while preparing for social distancing.... NO ONE needs every soup in the store, The more we hoard the more expensive and sparse necessities will become, leaving many without essentials. This is a great time to practice restraint... it’s incredibly difficult to make smart decisions while panicking but think twice before following the fear and being inconsiderate. There is enough to go around if we take care of one another. This is a beautiful time to LEAD!"
Actor-comedian Josh Gad hopped on Instagram to share a message of positivity, stating "I know it’s a scary time right now and I know people are very nervous about what the future brings. Know that we are all in this together and the world is going to get through this...There seem to be a few things this virus can teach us right now: empathy, selflessness and the value of true leadership and guidance. Perhaps it’s a time for reflection, a time for diligence and a time for prioritizing what’s most important...look out for those in your community it who are most at risk right now, specifically the elderly."
Heidi Klum shared a similar message as she announced herself and her husband were getting tested for the virus and staying apart while they await their results, adding "In these moments, you remember what’s really important- the people you love and keeping them safe. Social distancing is what we all need to do right now to be responsible citizens of the world. We are all in this together and it is up to us to protect our loved ones, and our neighbors and our communities. Please listen to the officials and stay at home if you can and physically distance yourself from other people… especially if you are not feeling well. I see all the beautiful things people are doing for each other all over the globe and that gives me hope! Sending all of you love and positivity and healing vibes… together we can get through this but we need to be proactive so that we can all have a bright and healthy future."
Ariana Grande had a stern message for people who were denying the seriousness of the pandemic. The singer tweeted a PSA that read, "I keep hearing from a surprising amount of people statements like "this isn't a big deal"/"we'll be fine"... "we still have to go about our lives" and it's really blowing my mind. I understand if that is how u felt weeks ago. but please read about what's going on. please don't turn a blind eye. it is incredibly dangerous and selfish to take this situation that lightly. The "we will be fine because we're young" mindset is putting people who aren't young and / or healthy in a lot of danger. you sound stupid and privileged and you need to care more about others. like now." The singer continued her rant in several tweets, and added "instead of responding with your frustration ( that I totally agree with and support ) call your senators! we need them to support this plan. everyone deserves to be financially supported and feel safe at home during this time," stating she hoped to "encourage a solution (sic)."
Not all celebrities are big on social distancing, however, Rapper 50 Cent spent his Saturday night out at a strip club tossing stacks of cash onto the stage as strippers danced for him.
In the meantime, celebrities worldwide are making significant contributions to help fight the spread of the coronavirus. More recently, Justin Bieber posted to Instagram, "Watching the news I couldn’t imagine how scary it would be if a new disease was effecting my wife and my family and friends. China we stand with you as a collective humanity and have made a donation to support. Whether it be this or the fires of Australia we all need to be there for each other."
He also thanked Chinese celebrity and former KPop idol Kris Wu for sparking the conversation.
KPop celebrities have also made significant donations to fight coronavirus, and their fans have also made sizeable donations in their name.