Disney recently ignited a firestorm on social media with a post featuring veteran actress Julie Andrews, 90, that inadvertently caused fans to fear the beloved star had died. The post, intended to promote an upcoming Disney+ documentary, used a photo of Andrews with the caption 'Courage, resilience, grace,' which many interpreted as a eulogy.
The reaction was swift and intense, with a deluge of comments expressing shock and frustration across platforms like X and Instagram. "Why the f**k would you promote this like this????" one X user wrote, with the comment garnering nearly two million views. Another Instagram user posted, "We all had the same reaction, jeez collective panic attack. She is so loved!" A fan on X griped, "Can you please pick a better marketing strategy? I nearly fainted thinking we lost our treasure."
The documentary, which aims to provide an "intimate and revealing look at the legendary actress," is slated for release in 2027. Director R.J. Cutler described the experience of working with Andrews as "extraordinary," stating that she "gave us her full self, without armor, without pretense."
Despite the online panic, Andrews has recently shown herself to be in good health. She delivered a video message to attendees of the seventh annual World Parkinson Congress in May, appearing well. A source close to the Oscar winner told Woman's Day magazine that Andrews is "incredibly fit and healthy for her age," adding that while she has "usual aches and pains and prefers the comforts of home," she is "doing wonderfully."
Andrews' last public appearance was in March 2023, when she attended the taping of the NBC special "Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love." Her career, which began in British vaudeville, includes iconic roles in "The Sound of Music," "The Princess Diaries," and "Bridgerton."