Neil Gaiman apologises for ‘stupid’ and ‘foolish’ trip to Skye despite Scotland’s coronavirus lockdown
Police spoke to the American Gods author after he admitted to travelling more than 11,000 miles from New Zealand to Skye
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Your support makes all the difference.Neil Gaiman has apologised to the people of Scotland’s Isle of Skye after breaching the country’s lockdown rules, calling himself “stupid” and “foolish”.
Police spoke to the American Gods author after he admitted to travelling more than 11,000 miles from New Zealand to his Isle of Skye holiday home, despite Scotland being under lockdown. Only essential journeys are currently allowed under the country’s Covid-19 restrictions.
Writing on his online journal, Gaiman said that he had done “something stupid” and wasn’t “thinking clearly”, adding that his “home life and work had been turned upside down by the Covid-19 lockdowns” in New Zealand.
Gaiman and his wife, the musician Amanda Palmer, announced earlier this month that they had separated during quarantine, with Palmer remaining in New Zealand with their son.
Gaiman wrote that he was “panicked and more than a little overwhelmed” by his circumstances in New Zealand, and followed UK government advice when deciding to fly to Skye. He admitted, however, that he was wrong to do so.
“Since I got here Skye has had its own tragic Covid outbreak – 10 deaths in a local care home,” Gaiman wrote. “It’s not set up to handle things like this, and all the local resources are needed to look after the local community. So, yes. I made a mistake. Don’t do what I did. Don’t come to the Highlands and Islands unless you have to.”
He continued: “I want to apologise to everyone on the island for creating such a fuss. I also want to thank and apologise to the local police, who had better things to do than check up on me. I’m sure I’ve done sillier things in my life, but this is the most foolish thing I’ve done in quite a while.”
Gaiman’s trip to Skye was previously described as “gobsmacking” by SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackwood, who said: “We will welcome all to the Highlands when it is safe to do so. For now, stay away.”
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