Kelly Dodd Publicly Apologizes For Saying COVID-19 Is ‘God’s Way Of Thinning The Herd’

Kelly Dodd got slammed on social media after she offered her surprising take on the coronavirus pandemic on Tuesday, calling it “God’s way of thinning the herd.” On Instagram, the Real Housewives of Orange County star suggested she was both tested for COVID-19 and recently traveled on an airplane.

In the comment section of her recent post, a follower called her out for air travel amid pandemic, to which she replied, “If it’s dangerous why are the airlines still flying? You think I want to fly? I had to get back, how is that elitist?”

“Do you know how many people died from the H1N1, the swine flu or SARS?” Dodd continued in a different comment. “It’s 25% get your facts straight you only hearing numbers not the reality! It’s God’s way of thinning the herd!”

She added, “If you are vulnerable or compromised stay inside; if you don’t, protect others by wearing masks and gloves keep your distance! And don’t go out if you are ill!”

The comments have since been deleted but were gathered by writer Evan Ross Katz beforehand.

However, the next day, Dodd publically issued an apology via her Instagram Stories over her “ridiculous” and “stupid” comments.

Dodd revealed that she “felt bad” for her remarks after she received major backlash online. “I want to give a public apology,” she said on her Instagram Stories on Tuesday. “When I wrote ‘this is God’s way of thinning the herd,’ that’s not what I meant.”

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*SWIPE* #KellyDodd publicly apologizes for saying COVID-19 is “God’s way of thinning the herd.” Details at iRealHousewives.com or check out our Insta Stories for direct link! #RHOC #iRealHousewives

A post shared by irealhousewives (@irealhousewives) on Apr 22, 2020 at 11:47pm PDT

According to Page Six, Dodd only meant to pose the question whether the global pandemic, which has claimed the lives of more than 176,000 people worldwide to date, was “God’s way of thinning the herd.”

“I’m not insensitive,” she said in the video. “I feel bad for all the families that lost loved ones, and I do think that we should all stay home and protect everybody. That’s not what I meant, and I want to apologize to anyone who got offended, OK? I’m sorry.”

She added, “I hope you can all forgive me for saying something so ridiculous and so stupid, so again, please accept my apology.”

Given the constantly evolving nature of COVID-19, we want our readers (courtesy via Us Weekly) to have access to the most accurate resources. For the most up-to-date coronavirus information, guidance, and support, consult the CDC, WHO, and information from local public health officials. If you’re experiencing coronavirus symptoms, call your primary care provider for medical advice.

Photo Credit: Bravo