Whether it's breaking the social distancing order or not wearing a mask, a number of public figures have been caught red-handed not following the rules to slow the spread of coronavirus.
- May 31, 2020
AceShowbiz - Since coronavirus pandemic hit the United States earlier this year, many states were put on loose lockdown. With public places being closed and some being left out of work, people were not only confined at homes, but they were practically having not much to do.
It's not an ideal situation for most people, especially those who used to have a heavy social life and do outdoor activities. While many have accepted the fact and spent their time doing more indoor activities, like recording TikTok videos, a few just would not give up their normal lifestyles, even if that meant they had to break the COVID-19 guidelines.
For public figures whose lives are constantly under the spotlight, it's easy to spot it when they make such mistake. Like when some celebrities broke the social distancing rules, public were quick to judge them.
To learn from the wrong ones and keep in mind the importance to keep following the protocols, even though businesses have opened now, here are some of those public figures who have been caught violating the COVID-19 guidelines.
1. Floyd Mayweather
An avid partygoer, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. didn't waste time to hit the club as soon as all states loosened COVID-19 restrictions. On May 23, the former boxing champion was spotted partying at the International Boutique Nightclub in Old Town Scottsdale with a bunch of other patrons, who didn't wear masks and didn't stay 6 feet apart from one another. This evoked the fury of Scottsdale mayor, Jim Lane, who called it "disturbing" and said that it showed "a real lack of common sense and civic responsibility."
2. Hannah Brown and Tyler Cameron
Hannah Brown and Tyler Cameron just couldn't stay away from each other. Amid their romance rumors, the Bachelor Nation couple reunited in Florida in March. While it was understandable that they wanted to quarantine together, fans were angry after the couple was also spotted partying on a boat together with friends. "When you want to be excited about Tyler and Hannah but they don't believe in social distancing," one fan reacted at the time. Later in April, Hannah left Florida to self-isolate in her native Alabama.
3. Tom Brady
During the coronavirus lockdown, many public places were closed to help stop the spread of the virus. That, however, didn't stop Tom Brady from using a downtown park in Tampa, Florida to get an outdoor workout in April, breaking public health guidelines. He was caught red-handed by park staff who were patrolling, but Mayor Jane Castor said he was not cited. The city later tweeted to the former New England Patriots star, "Sorry @TomBrady! Our @tampaparksrec team can't wait to welcome you and our entire community back with even bigger smiles -- until then, stay safe and stay home as much as you can to help flatten the curve."
4. Tory Lanez and Megan Thee Stallion
Tory Lanez and Megan Thee Stallion angered fans when they appeared together on his "Quarantine Radio". The Canadian rapper broadcasted an April episode of his popular Instagram series from the "Savage" hitmaker's house, where she tried to teach him a dance from the TikTok Out West Challenge. Viewers were quick to weigh in on the two's hangout, with one asking why they took the unnecessary risk with the visit, "Firstly, Wtf is tory lanez doing in megan's house??"
5. Josh Brolin
Josh Brolin broke the social distancing order as he visited his father James Brolin and stepmother Barbra Streisand during the coronavirus lockdown in California. He even took to Instagram to share a picture of their reunion, with he and his family wearing masks. That didn't stop people from criticizing him for not following physical distancing guidelines, but he was quick to own up to his mistake. "My father lives next door to us, and we had a plan to go see them and not be near them and that plan was broken and that's our responsibility ... I think it was irresponsible," he said in an Instagram video.
6. Ivanka Trump
One could not miss out Ivanka Trump when talking about breaking social distancing orders. Despite advising people to follow federal guidelines to slow the spread of COVID-19, the daughter of President Donald Trump was caught traveling with her family to New Jersey from Washington during the Easter weekend. The White House defended her travel though, stating, "Her travel was no different than had she been traveling to/from work and the location was less populated than the surrounding area near her home in D.C."
7. Kylie Jenner
Kylie Jenner had been self-isolating at home during the coronavirus lockdown until she stepped out to visit BFF Stassie Karanikolaou in April. The 22-year-old reality TV star went makeup free and opted to dress for comfort in a tie-dye sweatsuit, without wearing a mask. The cosmetic mogul apparently went out for some fresh air and a snack run, as she was seen leaving her friend's place with a water bottle and a bag of chips. Despite the public appearance, a source assured to PEOPLE that all the Kardashian family members are taking social distancing seriously, saying, "Everyone is still staying at home."
8. Andie MacDowell
Another celebrity who tried to make use of a closed public place for her own benefit, Andie MacDowell was caught sneaking out of the Audubon Center in Debs, Los Angeles with her daughters, Rainey and Margaret Qualley, in April. They went as far as crawling out from under a large, iron gate at the closed park, apparently having gone on a hike wile walking their dog. But since no one encountered the "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and her family when they were out, Audubon Center director Marcos Trinidad said, "we will not penalize them." Andie appeared to deny the sighting, writing on her Instagram Stories, "Both my girls are in Montana. They are not in LA." When her denial wasn't enough and people continued criticizing her, she eventually deleted her Twitter account.
9. Candace Owens
Candace Owens didn't not only defy the coronavirus guidelines, but she was also complaining about them. The conservative political activist was approached by a police officer for not wearing a mask while inside a grocery store despite Whole Foods' regulations. Instead of apologizing for it, she took to Twitter to rant about the police encounter. "We come to this @WholeFoods EVERY DAY. Apparently beginning yesterday, it is now illegal to come in without a mask," she tweeted at the time, prompting criticism from fellow users who blasted her for feigning ignorance about the pandemic.
10. Lori Harvey
Lori Harvey usually pleased her fans whenever she updates her social media account, but not when her friend Taina Williams shared photos from their Cinco de Mayo bash. The stepdaughter of Steve Harvey threw the pool party at her Hollywood Hills mansion, which was also attended by two other friends, Asia Carter and Amaya Colon, on May 7. The 23-year-old social media personality quickly came under fire for seemingly ignoring social distancing order, with one asking "No social distance?" Another remarked, "This don't look like quarantining."
11. 2 Chainz
Much like Floyd Mayweather, 2 Chainz wanted things to go back to normal once the states loosened the COVID-19 restrictions. He and his business partner re-opened their Escobar Restaurant & Tapas for dining in, but that didn't go well when one of the restaurants in Atlanta, Georgia was packed with customers partying for Memorial Day. Georgia State Police officers noticed patrons ignored all social distancing rules when they stopped by, prompting it to be closed down for "violating executive orders regarding protocol issued due to COVID-19."
12. Donald Trump
Like daughter, like father. Ivanka Trump wasn't the only of the White House family who broke the federal guidelines in slowing the spread of coronavirus. Even Donald Trump, who should be the face of the country as a president, didn't set an example to Americans as he refused to wear a mask when he appeared in public. It wasn't a one-time incident, as he was seen violating the rule when visiting the Honeywell plant in Arizona and later during a tour of a Ford plant in Michigan. In his defense, he said that he wore it backstage, but wouldn't wear it in front of cameras. "I didn't want to give the press the pleasure of seeing it," he insisted.
