Ant Middleton has backtracked after urging people to "calm the f**k down" over the coronavirus pandemic.
The ‘SAS: Who Dares Wins’ star admitted he was wrong to tell people that there was no threat "for the majority" from the deadly Covid-19 and says he had been "in a bubble" while filming a new secret project in New Zealand.
In an IGTV video, he shared: "For those of you who know me, you’ll know that I’m in New Zealand filming a secret project. However, that project has now been cancelled so I am going to be on a flight home this weekend.
"And now I’ve come out of this bubble I’ve realised I’ve probably been a bit insensitive towards the magnitude, the scale, of the crisis that’s happening in the UK. And the forever changing situation and advice that’s been given. So what I’ve decided to do is take down my previous posts because some of the advice that I gave now goes against government advice and I wouldn’t want people to come across that now. I’ve decided to admit that I’ve made a mistake, take that on the chin and come back to the UK and do the best that I possibly can.
"A big shoutout to the emergency services, the doctors, the nurses, the lorry drivers, the shelf stackers, the teachers, the people who are keeping things moving back in the UK. Guys, I will see you soon, stay positive, we’ve got this."
Ant previously claimed he was "sensitive" to the COVID-19 crisis but is determined to treat the outbreak with "common sense" and follow the UK government’s advice and, as a healthy 39-year-old man, he will continue to live his life as normal as possible.
In a lengthy Instagram post, he said: "Calm the f**k down people! COVID-19 doesn’t bother me. Why? Because I’m strong and able like the majority of us and it has no benefit or positive impact on my life.
"If you are vulnerable to COVID-19 then the ‘expert advice’ is yours to take on board, listen to it! Because it doesn’t effect me, it is merely ‘advice’! That however doesn’t mean I am not sensitive towards the situation and towards others but I’m treating this situation like I would ANY given situation, with ‘COMMON SENSE’.
"Does covid-19 effect me?.. ‘NO’! Should my life change?…’NO’! Should I be sensitive towards others and the situation (like I always am)?.. ‘YES’! Am I going to do my best to protect and provide for my family first?.. ‘YES ALWAYS’ and in order to do that we must all stay calm and take on advice that’s relevant to our personal situation, and for the majority of us there is no threat. (sic)"
Ant Middleton admits mistake over Covid-19 declaration
