Influencers apologize for attending parties amid pandemic

A number of influential YouTubers and TikTokers attended a birthday party for Larray at the Hype House in Los Angeles on July 21. Videos and photos revealed that the event was packed in spite of social distancing guidelines.

Guests included James Charles, Tana Mongeau, Nikita Dragun, Charli D’Amelio and dozens of others. According to Insider, the party reached its capacity and people crowded outside to be let in.

Fans were unhappy with the example these influencers set for their millions of followers.

“I love Larray to death … but what the f*** was Nikita and him thinking … CA cases just passed NY and that’s literally such an issue … and then there’s a huge party with no one wearing a mask,” one fan wrote on Twitter. “Setting great examples for all your fans… it’s really not ok.. think s*** through.”

Credit: Instagram/NickAustin
Credit: Instagram/charli.and.dixie

“If your favorite influencers are at huge house parties during a pandemic (& are dumb enough to post it on social media)… they are bad influences. unfollow them,” YouTuber Tyler Oakley wrote on Twitter. He later called out the influencers at the party by name.

Following the backlash, James Charles shared a “day in the life” video on July 25 that was originally supposed to include clips from the party — but he revealed in the text at the end of the video that he cut the footage.

He encouraged fans to “be smarter than I was” and respect social distancing guidelines.

Credit: YouTube/JamesCharles

Tana Mongeau faced further criticism for attending the same party — and two additional parties, allegedly.

In a now-deleted video that has since been uploaded by other accounts, Mongeau appeared alongside YouTuber Erika Costell at what appears to be a party, saying, “Listen, we don’t f****** care.”

It’s not clear what she was referencing in the video — she could have been saying she doesn’t care about partying amid a pandemic, but it also could have been a reference to the fact she and Costell share the same ex, Jake Paul.

What is clear is that she was at a party without a mask and standing closer than six feet apart from her fellow partygoers.

Mongeau has previously spoken out about experiencing severe breathing difficulties, which eventually led to an asthma diagnosis.

On July 26, Mongeau posted an apology in response to the backlash on her Instagram story, calling her actions “careless and irresponsible.”

Credit: Instagram/TanaMongeau

“Partying/going to any social gatherings during a global pandemic was such a careless and irresponsible action on my behalf,” she wrote. “Actions like that don’t deserve a platform and I want to fully apologize and be better than this.”

She also said that what she and Costell were referring to in the “don’t f****** care” video was “past drama,” not the pandemic.

If you found this story interesting, you might also want to read about past Hype House drama.

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