Australian Idol winner and The Voice judge, Guy Sebastian has taken to social media to apologise for encouraging Australians to get vaccinated. Yes, you read that right, he apologised.
It all started when Sebastian deleted a post on his Instagram that showed support for LIVE’s (Live Industry Venues + Entertainment) alliance, “#VaxTheNation” campaign. This saw musicians like Jimmy Barnes and Amy Shark throw their support behind getting Australians jabbed in an effort to bring back live music.
Not exactly controversial, given a huge percentage of Australians are currently in lockdown and the music industry has been decimated by the virus.
Interestingly, in a move no one really saw coming, perhaps especially his PR team, Sebastian took back his support and posted an apology on Instagram.
Sebastian said: “I’m sure some of you might have seen an industry call out with the best of intentions for our live music industry.
“I’ve always done everything I can to support my industry but the campaign was posted to my page without my direct involvement.
“I would never ever tell people what to do when it comes to their personal health choices.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CTetG9WlvjV/
While Sebastian’s intentions may have been to try and please everyone, it definitely backfired. Followers began accusing the singer of being an anti-vaxxer.
Sebastian attempted to clarify his comments when he told The Daily Telegraph, “There is no confusion, I made the personal decision to be double vaccinated.
“I support the music industry initiatives to revive our industry, however, I personally don’t believe it is my place to deal in absolutes to tell people what to do in regards to their personal health choices.
“We need to remember to communicate with empathy and understanding. This has always been my goal.”
Naturally, the drama didn’t stop there, Sebastian and radio host Ray Hadley then got into an argument about his comments on Hadley’s 2GB radio show.
Hadley said, “I’m very disappointed in you to tell you the truth.”
Sebastian then told Hadley he was “disappointed” in him and then the two continued to bicker.
Sebastian remained evasive while Hadley tried to pin down his view. Hadley asked Sebestian to clarify that when the singer talked about not everyone getting vaccinated. He was referring to people with medical conditions, not anti-vaxxers.
Sebastian said: “I think you’re ignoring my statement altogether, especially at the end where we said we need to consider people’s specific circumstances. I’ve been very clear of my stance, I’m pro-vax. I’m against things that are ill-informed.
“The comment that was posted on my behalf dealt in absolutes, and I’m not about that. I am with the campaign. I have cancelled my tour three times – I more than anybody want us to get going.
“But personally, I want to consider the make-up artist I know who has a very serious disease who can’t work unless she gets the jab. We can have this conversation without lumping those people in with the anti-vax people.”
Hadley finished the conversation by saying, “I still think you are wrong.”
Of course, it’s not just Hadley that is unhappy with the singer’s apology.
Twitter has been filled with opinions on the saga, even musician Ben Lee weighed in.
https://twitter.com/chrisopotamia/status/1435025538855227392
Unlike Guy Sebastian, I'm more than happy to tell people what they should do with their personal health choices: DON'T LISTEN TO QUACKS AND FRAUDS, FOLLOW MEDICAL ADVICE, GET VAXXED IF AND WHEN YOU CAN DO SO, WE'RE IN A GODDAMN GLOBAL PANDEMIC, SOMETHING SOMETHING SCIENCE.
— Andrew P Street, The (@AndrewPStreet) September 7, 2021
Guy Sebastian going from an outspoken advocate for his industry, to a justifiably outraged prop in Morrison's PR campaign, to a coward trying to appease anti-vaxxers, is quite the character arc.
— David Milner (@DaveMilbo) September 7, 2021
Some artists are expending a huge amount of their cultural capital challenging audiences to get vaxxed. So much respect. And then there's guy sebastian, one of our most successful artists, who sounds like he agrees with the science but is terrified of losing his anti-vax $
— Urthboy (@urthboy) September 6, 2021
https://twitter.com/benleemusic/status/1434999041796894720
It is also important to note that all of this is happening while Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra are in lockdown, with vaccine rates seemingly the only way out. However, it seems you won’t catch Sebastian endorsing anyone to get the jab, at least not without mentioning a bunch of disclaimers.
