When Jenna Ortega Filmed the “Wednesday” Dance Scene, She Got COVID-19

If you’ve been anywhere near the internet for the past few weeks, you’re probably aware of Netflix’s latest hit: Wednesday.

Eight-part series Addams Family In the spin-off and lead role, 20-year-old Jenna Ortega plays the character of Wednesday Addams.

And there’s one scene in particular that took social media crazy, audiences mesmerized by his moves at Wednesday’s school dance.

In Episode 4, the character stuns her boyfriend, Tyler, when he performs a remarkable routine in Cramps’ song “Goo Goo Muck” while his face remains completely frozen.

Jenna previously admitted that she didn’t expect the stage to be this popular, and even said she felt “insecure” about it because she was putting together the moves herself.

“I actually felt really insecure about it,” he said in a behind-the-scenes video. “I choreographed it myself, and I think it’s pretty clear I’m not a dancer or a choreographer.”

People were horrified after Jenna admitted that she was allowed to shoot while waiting for test results after waking up with virus symptoms.

“It was crazy because it was my first day with COVID, so filming sucked,” Jenna explained.

She shared, detailing her symptoms: “I woke up and – it’s weird, I never get sick and it’s not too bad when I’m sick – my body ached. I felt like I had been hit by a car and a little goblin was loose in my throat and scratching the walls of my esophagus.

“They were giving me medication between purchases because we expected a positive result,” Jenna added. “I wanted to do it again, but we didn’t have time. I probably could have done it a little better.”

Netflix confirmed Jenna’s story and added, in response: “Strict COVID protocols were followed, and production removed Jenna from the set after the positive test was confirmed.”

However, many criticized the producers and series director Tim Burton for allowing Jenna to work when she was not feeling very well.

In addition to the need to be given time to rest, it was noted that COVID-19 is highly contagious and Jenna’s being on set puts everyone at risk.

Discussing the situation on a Reddit forum, one person said: “It wasn’t even a one-on-one shoot, it was literally a whole dance club scene with lots of people involved. I don’t blame Jenna for notifying them in time, but I think it was extremely irresponsible of the producers to continue filming, especially since it involved a crowd.”

Another agrees: “This is a massive failure of those responsible and very disrespectful to anyone on set living with or living with someone at high risk.”

Another wrote: “This is an irresponsible practice for such a large production. Anyone who is even remotely symptomatic should be kept off the set until the test returns with a result. I’m sure that being positive on set like that has spread to the other players, the crew, and the background players. I would be so upset if I was on this show!

And it was widely agreed that Jenna was not responsible, and one user summed it up: “As an employee, Jenna is not responsible, Netflix, the producers and Burton will be.”

But some objected to the way Jenna told the story, arguing that it was a representation of the “culture of torment.”

“As others have noted, I don’t blame Jenna for working during Covid+ bc, I doubt she has the strength/power to oppose Netflix/Burton. But I raise my eyebrows at how he told this story as if it were a good anecdote about how tough/self-reliant he was and how crappy he framed the situation,” one commented.

“Yes, social media loves to spread this culture of persecution. It’s so toxic. Working yourself to death is inflexible,” another confirmed.