COVID-19 Keeps 'Eternals' Stars From ELLE's Women In Hollywood Event

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Four stars of the upcoming Marvel Studios superhero film “Eternals'' -- Angelina Jolie, Gemma Chan, Salma Hayek and Lauren Ridloff -- were possibly exposed to COVID-19 and were unable to attend ELLE's 27th annual Women In Hollywood event.

ELLE Editor-in-Chief Nina Garcia, in her opening remarks, confirmed that a potential COVID-19 exposure was the reason for the honoree's absence at the event Tuesday night. All four women were scheduled to be speakers.

“I am so deeply grateful to be with you tonight in person... However, the reality of the world we are now living in requires new rules,'' Garcia said. “As you may have heard, the cast of `Eternals,' who we are honoring here tonight, was just exposed [to COVID], and to keep everyone safe those superheroes are now in super-isolation.''

It was unclear how the cast members might have been exposed to COVID-19, but they were all in attendance at the Los Angeles premiere of “Eternals'' on Monday night.

A spokesperson with The Walt Disney Company, which owns Marvel, on Tuesday told Variety, “Earlier today we were made aware of a possible exposure to COVID-19, and while all of our talent have tested negative, out of an abundance of caution, we are pivoting to virtual appearances rather than in-person events.''

Director Chloe Zhao also was planning to be in attendance at the ELLE event, but canceled along with the film's stars.

The event took place at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and honored other women in film as well, including Gal Gadot, Jennifer Hudson, Rita Moreno and Halle Berry.

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