Vanessa Hudgens attends the opening night of "West Side Story" at Broadway Theatre in New York City. File/ AFP

The actor made the remarks in a recent live video on Instagram, which was being widely shared on social media on Tuesday.

“Yeah, ‘til July sounds like a bunch of bulls***, I’m sorry,” she said.

“But like, it’s a virus, I get it, I respect it, but at the same time, like – even if everybody gets it... Like, yeah, people are gonna die. Which is terrible, but like – inevitable?”

She added before chucking: “I don’t know. Maybe I shouldn’t be doing this right now.”

  Vanessa Hudgens apologises to her fans over the inappropriate comments about coronavirus.

The video was met with outrage on Twitter. Journalist Yasha Ali was among those criticising Hudgens, writing: ”What a horrible and heartless message for you to share with the younger people who look up to you.”

Hudgens reacted to the backlash on Tuesday, saying that some of her comments were “being taken out of context”.

“It’s a crazy time. It’s a crazy, crazy time,” she said. “And I am at home and in lockdown, and that’s what I hope you guys are doing too – in full quarantine and staying safe and sane.

“I don’t take this situation lightly by any means. I’m home. So stay inside, y’all.”