Netflix's 'Wednesday' Getting Backlash After Jenna Ortega Revealed She Had COVID While Filming
'This is a bad thing right?'
this is a bad thing right? we all agree that this is not some "persevering through hardship" moment, its a why the fuck didn't she get sent home, she could get horrendously sick or infect others kinda moment pic.twitter.com/dBlwOf2ulr
— Lily Simpson is Emotionally Dead like Twltter (@LilySimpson1312) December 3, 2022
Netflix understood that the dance scene could go viral, going so far as to publish it on YouTube, where it has racked up 10 million views. The streamer also shared a video of the cast discussing the scene on Nov. 27. In that clip, Ortega said she choreographed the dance scene herself. She did not mention her COVID diagnosis.
prevnextPotential 'Violation' of protocols
Film worker w/ Health & Safety experience here. Depends on what the test was for. If it was routine cadence testing that was done, she would've been within compliance. But if she had symptoms and they tested her for that reason? HUGE violation of protocols
— Lara, Hormonal & Poly Arc (@LaraOnSet) December 3, 2022
"I actually felt really insecure about this," Ortega said of the scene. "I choreographed that myself, and I think it's very obvious that I'm not a dancer or choreographer."She also told Vulture that her experience gave her a "new level of respect" for choreographers.
prevnext'Pretty irresponsible'
Wow.......Just Wow.
— The Indian With No Fucks (@IsaiahPavlik) December 7, 2022
Pretty irresponsible for all parties. 💯
After learning about Ortega's COVID diagnosis, Wednesday viewers took to social media to express their shock and disappointment.
prevnextWho was to blame?
Part of the debate among fans has been over who is to blame for Ortega continuing to work while showing COVID symptoms. Several believe the responsibility lay with director Tim Burton and the studio, not Ortega. "I don't blame Jenna for working while Covid+ bc as others have stated, I doubt she has the power/clout to go against Netflix/Burton," one person wrote on Reddit. "But I am kinda raising an eyebrow at how she's telling this story like it's a good anecdote of how tough/dedicated she is, and not framing it as how fucked up the situation was."
prevnext'This isn't ok'
So much for "the film industry has such high Covid protection measures"
— inkbot kowalski, MSc. (@inkbotkowalski) December 7, 2022
"This isn't ok. Moreover, the amount of people praising her work ethic is not ok," one person tweeted. "Anyone else would be ridiculed for this but because her show is doing well it's ok?"
prevnext'Why couldn't they... reschedule?'
A sick person would not have been allowed on a commercial set. Sooo why couldn’t they suck it up & reschedule? There is insurance for this stuff.
— Cotton-headed Ninnymuggins (@lazo_jenn) December 7, 2022
Wednesday has become the third-most watched English-language series on Netflix in just two weeks of release, according to the streamer. The eight-episode first season was directed by Burton and created by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. The series is a new take on The Addams Family, featuring Wednesday as a student at an academy of outcasts. Wednesday uses her psychic abilities to solve a murder mystery in the nearby town.
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