Social media users were left stunned after finding out that Jenna Ortega filmed the now-viral dance scene on Netflix’s Wednesday while she had Covid.
If you have been on the internet over the last couple of weeks, then you know that Wednesday emerged as a huge hit for the streaming service following its debut on November 23.
The eight-episode show is an Addams Family spinoff and stars the 20-year-old Scream actress as the titular character, Wednesday Addams - a girl who tries to navigate the mysteries of Nevermore Academy.
There is one particular scene on the show that originally riled up the Internet (and spawned hundreds of copycat TikTok videos) because of Wednesday's expressive dance moves - but now, the show has garnered backlash after viewers found out that Ortega filmed the scene while she had Covid.
Watch the viral scene below:In Episode 4, the main character shocks her date, Tyler, played by Hunter Doohan, when she performs a scene-stealing routine to 'Goo Goo Muck' by The Cramps, with her face remaining completely expressionless.
As she delivers the uncomfortable yet confident moves she doesn't even blink, adding to the mystery of the moment. The scene has now become a TikTok trend, with many people attempting to copy the dance to Lady Gaga's 'Bloody Mary'.
Unfortunately, the iconic scene is also getting even more attention - and plenty of criticism - after the actress opened up with NME about her experience shooting the dance.
"It’s crazy because it was my first day with Covid so it was awful to film," Ortega said, explaining that she "woke up and - it’s weird, I never get sick and when I do it’s not very bad - I had the body aches."
"I felt like I'd been hit by a car and that a little goblin had been let loose in my throat and was scratching the walls of my esophagus," she continued.
"They were giving me medicine between takes because we were waiting on the positive result,” Ortega said about the production team. "I asked to redo it but we didn’t have time. I think I probably could have done it a bit better."
Viewers immediately took to Twitter to slam the streaming platform for allowing the You actress to film while she was feeling extremely ill.
One appalled user wrote: "This is a bad thing right? we all agree that this is not some 'persevering through hardship' moment, it's a why the f*** didn't she get sent home, she could get horrendously sick or infect others' kinda moment."
Another equally shocked user said: "Jenna Ortega having Covid on set and working unmasked around other unmasked performers is not a flex. She should not be praised for 'working while sick.' The above the line crew could've possibly disabled or killed someone for their irresponsibility."
A third chimed in and commented: "Jenna Ortega filming that dance scene while she had covid is not impressive, it’s horrible. absolutely callous disregard for her coworkers."
Lastly, a fourth user stated: "Everything wrong with America's reaction to Covid is encapsulated in people applauding Jenna Ortega for doing her Wednesday dance scene while she had Covid.... she should have been masked and home."
According to Buzzfeed, soon after the backlash, Netflix provided the following statement: "Strict Covid protocols were followed, and once the positive test was confirmed production removed Jenna from the set."
Meanwhile, Ortega - who was applauded for her authentic portrayal of the character - previously revealed in a behind-the-scenes video she felt "insecure" about the dance because she choreographed it by herself.
Despite it all, Wednesday's dance moves have become a massive hit on the internet, and also 'Goo Goo Muck', which was originally released in 1981, has seen an increase in streams - meaning that the band could have its first-ever Billboard Hot 100 hit, per Billboard.
Furthermore, Netflix tweeted last week that the series has amassed a whooping "341.2 million hours," which means it now has the record "for most hours viewed in a week for an English-language series" on the platform.
