Man Who Said ‘If I Get Corona, I Get Corona,’ Is Sorry

A mobile police tower overlooks an area of South Beach that the city closed in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in Miami Beach, Florida on March 17, 2020. Miami Beach city officials closed the area of the beach that is popular with college spring breakers and asked them to refrain from large gatherings where COVID-19 could spread. Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images

A man who made headlines saying that he would continue to party in Florida amid the coronavirus pandemic has issued an apology.

“If I get corona, I get corona. At the end of the day, I’m not gonna let it stop me from partying,” Brady Sluder told news outlets last week in Miami, which drew international headlines and widespread condemnation. “We’re just out here having a good time. Whatever happens, happens.”

But in an Instagram post this week, Sluder issued an apology over his remarks.

“I would like to sincerely apologize for the insensitive comment I made in regards to COVID-19 while on spring break. I wasn’t aware of the severity of my actions and comments,” he wrote. “I’d like to take this time to own up to the mistakes I’ve made and apologize to the people I’ve offended.”

Sluder, who The Associated Press reported is 22 and lives in Ohio, added that he now understands the severity of the CCP virus outbreak and wants to play a role in stopping its spread.

The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Party’s coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China before it was transmitted worldwide.

“Like many others, I have elderly people who I adore more than anything in the world and other family members who are at risk, and I understand how concerning this disease is for us all,” he said. “Our generation may feel invincible, like I did when I commented, but we have a responsibility to listen and follow the recommendations in our communities.”

Sluder said he will now “reflect and learn from this and continue to pray for our well-being. I deeply apologize from the bottom of my heart for my insensitivity and unawareness of my actions.”

His “corona” comments were widely shared on social media as an example of the reckless attitude that some spring break revelers displayed as authorities in Florida and New York warned people to stay home.