Actress who boasted about valuing freedom over quarantine backtracks, apologizes for ‘insensitive’ post, ‘arrogant and cryptic’ silence

Actress Evangeline Lilly is backtracking after saying she valued her freedom too much to self-quarantine amid the COVID-19 crisis.

On March 16, Lilly shared a now-viral Instagram post saying that she also refused to self-quarantine because the government already had too much control.

You can read her original post here.

What's she saying now?

Lilly, 40, apologized in a Thursday Instagram post.

She wrote, "I want to offer my sincere and heartfelt apology for the insensitivity I showed in my previous post to the very real suffering and fear that has gripped the world through COVID19. The world is rallying to find a way to stop this very real threat, and my ensuing silence has sent a dismissive, arrogant, and cryptic message."

Lilly said she began social distancing on March 18 — two days after her original posting.

"Two days [after the original post] those directives changed and, despite my intense trepidation over the socioeconomic and political repercussions of this course of action, PLEASE KNOW I AM DOING MY PART TO FLATTEN THE CURVE, PRACTICING SOCIAL DISTANCING, AND STAYING HOME WITH MY FAMILY."

Lilly added that she never meant to hurt anyone with the posting.

"When I wrote that post 10 days ago, I thought I was infusing calm into the hysteria," she continued. "I can see now that I was projecting my own fears into an already fearful and traumatic situation. I am grieved by the ongoing loss of life, and the impossible decisions medical workers around the world must make as they treat those affected."

What else?

Lilly pointed out that she's concerned over the state of the earth and its inhabitants, but also the "political aftermath" of the pandemic.

"I am praying for us all," she continued. "At the same time, I am heartened by the beauty and humanity I see so many people demonstrating toward one another in this vulnerable time. When I was grappling with my own fears over social distancing, one kind, wise and gracious person said to me 'do it out of love, not fear' and it helped me to realize my place in all of this."

She concluded, "Sending love to all of you, even if you can't return it right now."