Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti will take “personal responsibility” for being caught maskless at a sporting event but assured reporters that he had taken a safety precaution.
But the Democrat’s response during a press conference Wednesday, however, sparked immediate mockery on social media after he was asked about the hypocrisy of not following the mask policy at SoFi Stadium last weekend for the NFC Championship game.
Garcetti defended himself after pictures that were posted showed him posing maskless with NBA legend Magic Johnson and San Francisco Mayor London Breed as they watched the game from a luxury box at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium on Sunday.
Johnson tweeted the pictures out on social media, showing even Gov. Gavin Newsom – maskless.
Hanging out at SoFi Stadium today! pic.twitter.com/XfotiRLGz9
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) January 31, 2022
Deadline reported:
None of them are wearing masks in the photos, despite a local public health officer order requiring attendees to wear masks at all times during so-called outdoor “mega events,” except when “actively eating or drinking.” Johnson is in a high risk group for Covid, given his HIV status and age.
On Wednesday, Garcetti was asked about the photos at a press conference where details were covered about next week’s Super Bowl game which will be held at the same stadium.
“I’ll take personal responsibility,” the mayor said, “and if it makes you and everyone else happy — or even the photographs with people where literally I’m holding my breath for two seconds — I won’t even do that.”
Los Angeles Democrat Mayor Eric Garcetti justifies violating his city’s mask mandate at last weekend’s NFL game: “When people ask for a photograph, I hold my breath.” pic.twitter.com/LxijwctduB
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) February 3, 2022
A universal indoor mask mandate in effect in California has been extended through Feb. 15 and the stadium also has mask policies preventing going maskless unless eating or drinking.
“He was wearing a mask at the game and removed it for a brief moment to take a few photos,” a spokesperson for the mayor told ABC7 on Monday.
Newsom also defended himself when asked about the maskless photos.
“You’re correct,” he said Monday. “I was very judicious yesterday. Very judicious. You’ll see the photo that I did take, Magic was kind enough, generous enough, to ask me for a photograph and in my left hand’s the mask and I took the photo. The rest of the time I wore it as we all should, um — not when I had a glass of water — and I encourage everybody else to do so. And, uh, that’s it.”
Twitter users slammed Garcetti for his hypocrisy.
Eric Garcetti hopes you’re dumb enough to believe that he held his breath every single time he took his mask off at the Rams game. pic.twitter.com/r4FQeE24FY
— Kevin Dalton (@NextLAMayor) February 3, 2022
Eric Garcetti has assured the public he was holding his breath in the maskless football game photos. Yes, his defense is he didn’t exhale.
— Kevin Kiley (@KevinKileyCA) February 3, 2022
Oh man. The depths some will go to uphold a narrative
— not really fausto (@Freefausto) February 3, 2022
They really do think people are that stupid!
— Barbara Webster-Day (@bday1961) February 3, 2022
Isn’t that like Bill Clinton saying “I didn’t inhale?”
— Christine Colladay (@chriscolladay) February 3, 2022
Gavin was judicious, Garcetti held his breath… C’mon man. Stop. They don’t really believe masking is necessary. Nor did any one else around them or anyone in that stadium for that matter. End of story. https://t.co/qnPt3igs2e
— James Gallagher (@J_GallagherAD3) February 3, 2022
LA Mayor Garcetti:
‘0% chance of infection’ if he holds breath when removing mask for photo.
Great news LA county! No more masks, just hold your breath. Pandemic over.🤣— 🇺🇲🥓🍊Patriotic Bacon🍊🇺🇲🥓 (@Sassychickie) February 3, 2022
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