Marvel star Evangeline Lilly reveals she went to anti-vaccine mandate rally to 'support bodily sovereignty'
Marvel star Evangeline Lilly came out against COVID-19 vaccine mandates on Thursday, and discussed her attendance at a recent protest against them.
Lilly, known for playing The Wasp in Marvel's Ant-Man franchise, said on Instagram she was recently in Washington, D.C., for a rally to "support bodily sovereignty" and Canadian truckers who have been objecting to the government's COVID-19 vaccine rules. At this rally, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. delivered controversial remarks comparing vaccine mandates to the Holocaust and suggesting unvaccinated people are worse off than Anne Frank.
On Instagram, Lilly shared photos from the event showing signs calling for "vaxx choice" and "medical freedom," and said she believes "nobody should ever be forced to inject their body with anything, against their will, under threat of" anything, including loss of employment. "I understand the world is in fear," she said, "but I don't believe that answering fear with force will fix our problems." The actress added, "I was pro-choice before COVID and I am still pro-choice today."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Lilly, who also starred as Kate on ABC's Lost, received criticism early on in the COVID-19 pandemic after she claimed the coronavirus was just "a respiratory flu" and said she wasn't isolating because of it. She later apologized for the "dismissive" and "arrogant" comments.
Previously, fellow Marvel star Letitia Wright shared an anti-vaccine video in December 2020. The firestorm over the video led the Black Panther actress to leave Twitter, but last October, a report said she was continuing to espouse anti-vaccine views on the set of the Black Panther sequel. Wright denied this, calling the report "completely untrue," but she hasn't said whether she is vaccinated.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
'Make legal immigration a more plausible option'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
LA-to-Las Vegas high-speed rail line breaks ground
Speed Read The railway will be ready as soon as 2028
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel's military intelligence chief resigns
Speed Read Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva is the first leader to quit for failing to prevent the Hamas attack in October
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?
Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 wins
speed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughter
speed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopics
Speed Read Director Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band member
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift to Miley Cyrus: female artists dominate 2024 Grammys
Speed Read SZA, Phoebe Bridgers and Lainey Wilson were also among the winners at LA gala
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published