ANT Middleton has backtracked following his decision to offer “dangerous” advice amid the ongoing worldwide pandemic.
SAS: Who Dares Wins star Ant, 39, had told fans he was “not affected” by COVID-19 and that the killer bug “doesn’t bother” him.
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But after intense criticism, he took to Instagram to acknowledge that he was only talking about himself and that everyone should “follow common sense”.
In a later video, he confirmed he would be taking down his original posts and that he was “not fully aware of the scale of the crisis back in the UK”.
“You know I talk a lot about INTEGRITY, ACKNOWLEDGMENT and TAKING OWNERSHIP of your mistakes. I’m standing by my values now and taking ownership of mine,” he said.
“As some of you know, I’m out in New Zealand for a secret project, in a bubble and not fully aware of the scale of the crisis back in UK…it’s only hitting me now what a challenge we face.”
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He said: “I am not a doctor, I am not a scientist. I want to use my platform to promote positivity and mental strength. So I am taking my recent videos down.
“This is my choice because we LOOK FORWARD, we keep POSITIVE and we celebrate the hard work of all the incredible people grafting to keep us safe and healthy.”
In another post, he said: “I am an outspoken man, I say it as I see it. I believe the strong have to look after the weak, always. It is our duty. Covid-19 doesn’t bother me for MYSELF. MYSELF people. My health. But SELF-ISOLATE and follow common sense.
“Amongst all the panic, we must stay calm and always challenge the situation. It is not in my blood to accept defeat without some form of resistance or knowledge of knowing that I’ve done everything in my power to fight that threat that presents itself.
“I still continue that fight and so should you! Some people in UK have shown their true colours, happy to take rations away from the elderly and vulnerable. You know who you are!!!”
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He continued, suggesting that “when the chips are down, you learn what kind of person you are” and called on everyone “to look at yourselves and your loved ones and keep fighting”.
“And the way we are going to fight the panic and this f**king COVID-19 is to keep fighting, keep positive and let’s maintain a good old British fighting spirit. YOU are the backbone of the country and now we all need to do our bit,” he said.
“I will be volunteering all of my spare time, if I can leave my home – AND I WILL BE FOLLOWING THE NEW GOVERNMENT ADVICE OF SOCIAL DISTANCING, NO MORE HANDSHAKES!!! – to take my skillset wherever it is needed!”
He concluded by suggesting that his message was a “call to arms” and we have “a long war ahead of us”.
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“Whatever we face, we do with a positive mind set,” he said.
“I want to help share the hundreds of stories we hear every day of those working for us. Without thanks. Share your stories of those making you proud using #AntsHeroes and I’ll share as many as possible.”
The dad-of-five, who is a former sniper for the Special Boat Service, had previously insisted in a lengthy Instagram post that he is “sensitive” to the situation but that he is treating it with “common sense”.
Ant said: “Calm the f**k down people!”
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“Covid-19 doesn’t bother me. Why?!? Because I’m strong and able like the majority of us and it has no benefit or positive impact on my life,” he said.
“If you are vulnerable to Covid-19 then the ‘expert advice’ is yours to take on board, listen to it! Because it doesn’t effect me, it is merely ‘advice’! [sic].”
In an accompanying video, he went on: “A lot of people keep saying, ‘Ant listen to the experts!’ I have listened to the experts. The experts of Covid-19 say if you are vulnerable, self isolate and protect yourselves.
“If you are not vulnerable, then be sensitive to the situation and to the vulnerable, which I am being.”
He added: “If you ‘re fit and healthy and able, then get out there. Don’t lock yourself away, don’t bulk buy, don’t bloody run for the hills.”
In 2018, he climbed Everest for his show Extreme Everest With Ant Middleton and has since revealed he thought he was going to die during the expedition.
Ant joined the army at 17 and later spent four years serving as a point man and sniper for the SBS.
