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Jared Leto talks 'zombie apocalypse' moment he realised there was a global pandemic after silent retreat

Jared said it was like returning to a zombie apocalypse

jared leto
Emmy Griffiths
TV & Film Editor
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Jared Leto has opened up about finding out about the pandemic weeks after the rest of the world due to being on a silent retreat as cases soared, admitting that it was like "coming out to the zombie apocalypse". 

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Chatting on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on Monday eveningthe Suicide Squad actor explained: "It's a two-week silent meditation. The idea is that you go away, you get rid of your phone and distractions and you just meditate.

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"When I went away there were about 150 cases and in that short amount of time, when I came out, there was a shutdown and a state of emergency and the whole world had changed." 

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He continued: "When we were in there, they didn't tell us. We didn't have our phones, there was no eye contact, no TV and the teachers made a decision of, 'Let's not disturb the participants,' and I didn't turn on my phone until I went back to LA, so I drove the whole way trying to be peaceful and zen, keep the feeling going, and when I came back I was kind of shocked." 

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Jared went on a retreat and didn't know about pandemic

Fans were quick to comment on the situation, with one writing: "Must have been really ominous feeling when you realise everything is shutdown after you come back from a self-meditation vacation lol." Another added: "Why... would they decide to not tell them about a life-threatening virus?!" 

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The actor said it was like being in a zombie apocalypse 

Back in March 2020, Jared made headlines after tweeting: "Wow. 12 days ago I began a silent meditation in the desert. We were totally isolated. No phone, no communication etc. We had no idea what was happening outside the facility... Walked out yesterday into a very different world. One that’s been changed forever. Mind-blowing - to say the least. I’m getting messages from friends and family all around the globe and catching up on what’s going on." 

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