In an interview with NME, Jenna Ortega revealed that, while filming the dance scene in “Wednesday,” she technically had COVID-19. “I woke up and it’s weird, I never get sick, and when I do it’s not very bad – I had the body aches,” she shared. Ortega was tested on set, was given medicine, and still filmed while they waited for the results. Following the positive results, Ortega was removed from the set.
When fans heard the news that Ortega had filmed while sick, they expressed their disappointment. “[Ortega] filming a whole scene while waiting for her COVID test results AND with obvious symptoms isn’t ‘professional.’ It’s just completely irresponsible,” one tweeted. “Jenna Ortega filming that dance scene while she had COVID is not impressive. It’s horrible. Absolutely callous disregard for her coworkers,” another wrote. Producer Brad Takei tweeted, “While it’s a fabulous scene, there should have been stricter protocols in place.”
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Others thought it was unfair to blame Ortega. “This whole Jenna Ortega COVID situation is not being talked about correctly because people are making it seem like it’s her fault when it’s really capitalism and Netflix’s inhumane working conditions that is the reason for this,” a fan opined. “She should have been isolated – not made to keep working while feeling ill. Forcing Jenna Ortega to keep working and spreading COVID around the set is so negligent of the producers and studio,” another tweeted. Despite the negative backlash surrounding the dance scene, fans appear to be all for Ortega’s portrayal of Wednesday Addams.
