"We have to care about more than just ourselves."
UPDATE AT 7:28 AM PT ON AUGUST 6, 2021
Jennifer Aniston has addressed critics who took issue with her recent comments in which she said she cut "a few people" out of her life who haven't been vaccinated against Covid-19 or won't reveal if they've received the vaccine.
On Thursday, the actress took to her Instagram Story to defend her decision and elaborated more on the topic. Aniston shared a screenshot of an Instagram comment from a social media user who asked, "But if [Jennifer's] vaccinated she's protected correct? Why be worried about [having] unvaxxed people] around her?"
"Because if you have the variant, you are still able to give it to me," she wrote alongside the comment.
"I may get slightly sick but I will not be admitted to a hospital and or die," the "Friends" star added. "BUT I CAN give it to someone who does not have the vaccine and whose health is compromised (or has a previous existing condition) -- and therefore I would put their lives at risk."
"THAT is why I worry," Aniston concluded. "We have to care about more than just ourselves."
The Emmy winner also reshared a post on her Instagram Story that featured a photo of embroidery. "What doesn't kill you mutates and tries again," it read.
ORIGINAL STORY: 9:05 AM PT ON AUGUST 4, 2021
Jennifer Aniston has revealed she's cut "a few people" out of her life who won't get the Covid-19 vaccine or share their vaccination status.
"There's still a large group of people who are anti-vaxxers or just don't listen to the facts. It's a real shame," the "Friends" star told InStyle for their September cover story. "I've just lost a few people in my weekly routine who have refused or did not disclose [whether or not they had been vaccinated], and it was unfortunate."
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"I feel it's your moral and professional obligation to inform, since we're not all podded up and being tested every single day," she added. "It's tricky because everyone is entitled to their own opinion -- but a lot of opinions don't feel based in anything except fear or propaganda."
The 52-year-old actress has previously stressed the importance of wearing a face mask amid the pandemic. In June 2020, Aniston took to Instagram, encouraging her followers to "wear a damn mask" to protect others and "keep each other safe."
"I understand masks are inconvenient and uncomfortable. But don't you feel that it's worse that businesses are shutting down... jobs are being lost... health care workers are hitting absolute exhaustion," she captioned a selfie of herself wearing a mask, below. "And so many lives have been taken by this virus because we aren't doing enough."
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"I really do believe in the basic goodness of people so I know we can all do this 🥰 BUT still, there are many people in our country refusing to take the necessary steps to flatten the curve, and keep each other safe," she continued. "People seem worried about their 'rights being taken away' by being asked to wear a mask. This simple and effective recommendation is being politicized at the expense of peoples' lives. And it really shouldn't be a debate 🙏🏼 "
Aniston concluded, "If you care about human life, please... just #wearadamnmask 😷 and encourage those around you to do the same ❤️"
The following month, "The Morning Show" actress again asked her fans and followers to "PLEASE" wear a mask. Taking to Instagram, Aniston shared that her "perfectly healthy" friend Kevin had been hospitalized with Covid-19 and posted a photo of him in the hospital. The Emmy winner also shared an image of herself and her "Friends" co-star, Courteney Cox, both wearing masks.
"We can't be so naive to think we can outrun this...if we want this to end, and we do, right? The one step we can take is PLEASE #wearadamnmask," she wrote in the post's caption. "Just think about those who've already suffered through this horrible virus. Do it for your family. And most of all yourself. Covid affects all ages."
According to Johns Hopkins, as of August 4, there have been nearly 200 million reported cases of Covid-19 worldwide and over 4 million people have died. Meanwhile, as of August 4, in the U.S., 49.7% of the population, or 165.1 million people, are fully vaccinated, per the CDC.
