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2020 candidate Marianne Williamson apologizes for vaccine comments

Marianna Williamson speaking into a microphone. She is wearing a black blazer with a white shirt and sitting in a leather-looking chair.
Photo: Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

2020 Democrat Marianne Williamson apologized in a response to The Daily Beast on Wednesday for calling vaccine mandates "draconian" and "Orwellian."

"Public safety must be carefully balanced with the right of individuals to make their own decisions. I am sorry that I made comments which sounded as though I question the validity of life-saving vaccines. That is not my feeling and I realize that I misspoke."

The backdrop: At a campaign event in New Hampshire, Williamson argued the issue is about free autonomy over one's body: "To me, it's no different than the abortion debate. The U.S. government doesn't tell any citizen, in my book, what they have to do with their body or their child."

Of note: As many on Twitter have pointed out, Orwell died at just 46 years old from tuberculosis, which is now preventable by vaccine.

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Marianne Williamson