Cat Arambulo-Antonio. Instagram.com/catarambulo
MANILA -- An influencer and socialite apologized on Wednesday after getting flak for her "insensitive" rant against workers who got stranded as the government implemented a lockdown to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.
On Twitter, Cat Arambulo-Antonio said she "should have been more considerate of others who are trying to cope with this crisis."
"In all humility and sincerity, I would like to apologize for being insensitive. I didn't mean to undermine anyone -- hurt and offend everyone," she said.
"This was a hard lesson for me and I will use this to educate myself and strive to be better," she added. "Hoping for your for your forgiveness and I will try to do whatever I can to help."
"I am so very sorry."
In her Instagram Stories video which has gone viral after being reposted by netizens, Arambulo-Antonio can be seen reacting to a television report about workers stranded at checkpoints amid the enhanced community quarantine.
"God, why don't you (expletive) just stay at home?" she said as the report was aired on her TV.
Arambulo-Antonio first explained her rant via a Twitter post on Tuesday, saying it is "so frustrating to see that some people who have the option to stay at home are still not following the government's efforts."
While she apologized for her actions, she said she only had "the best intentions."
This did not sit well with many Twitter users, who pointed out to her that many minimum wage workers have no choice but to go out and make a living despite the lockdown.