Social media footage of Super Bowl LV star-studded events over the weekend almost makes it look like the pandemic is over.
In one instance, 50 Cent, Diplo, DJ Steve Aoki, Migos and Tory Lanez performed in a series of pre-event concerts, co-sponsored by Barstool Sports and a Miami nightclub, E11EVEN, between Thursday and Saturday. TMZ showed the crowd on the first night, mixing without masks and, of course, the performers didn’t always have them.
Meanwhile, COVID-19 is still very angry. On Monday, more than 464,000 people died of the virus and more than 27 million cases were diagnosed in the United States alone.
People on social media were quick to comment on the contradiction.
One of them was Rick Kriseman, who happens to be the mayor of St. Petersburg, Florida, where 50 Cent (real name: Curtis Jackson) also threw a party inside a hangar at Albert Whitted Airport on Friday.
“This is not how we should celebrate the Super Bowl,” said Kriseman. “It is not safe or smart. It is stupid.” He promised to investigate the party and said, “It could end up costing someone a lot more than 50 cents.”
– Rick Kriseman (@Kriseman) February 6, 2021This is not how we should celebrate the Super Bowl. It is not safe or smart. It’s stupid. Let’s take a look at this and it could end up costing someone a lot more than 50 cents. @TMZhttps://t.co/Vrvg8fTdBB
The rapper joined Diplo – aka Thomas Pentz – at the WTR Pool and Grill in Tampa on Saturday. TMZ reported that about 2,000 people attended the last one, which also caught the attention of the authorities.
A Tampa Police Department spokesman said in a statement to TMZ: “The scenes from WTR last night and from a few other clubs were incredibly disappointing.”
Florida reported 5,737 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, according to the state health department, including 873 new cases from Tampa Bay.
Representatives for Jackson, Aoki and Diplo did not immediately respond to Yahoo Entertainment’s request for comment. WTR Pool and Grill also did not respond. An organizer of the Aoki concert at the WTR insisted in Tampa, Florida, the WTVT news station, that the COVID-19 protocols to prevent the spread of the virus, from measuring temperatures to applying rapid tests, were in place.
Lanez was part of a celebrity football game in which several ABC alumni Bachelor franchise competed – no masks, according to the sponsor’s official Instagram account. Peter Weber, Jason Tartick and Blake Horstmann were all located. Celebrity Sweat, the event organizer, announced on social media that participants were selected for COVID-19 and their temperatures were checked.
People watching from home had a lot to say about the star-filled crowds they saw in the photos.
– Caroline Allen (@ByCallen) February 8, 2021It may be a long way off, but I think the best way to honor healthcare professionals would be to not allow unmasked events during the Super Bowl … https://t.co/9JYCJZszbA
– Courtney (@courtneyamoose) February 7, 2021Between the Super Bowl taking place in this city tonight and the ridiculous 50 cents mega mask party this weekend, I can’t wait to see how the numbers go up where I live 🤩 https://t.co/GneE4eVJOq
– Whitney Meyer (@itswhitneymeyer) February 8, 2021All these unmasked, high-profile celebrities, having the best time of their lives in the Super Bowl super propagators, as if more than 450,000 people hadn’t died of a highly contagious and deadly AIRBORNE virus and like Florida is some kind of pass free from pandemic reality makes me sick. Shameful.
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