The pandemic treats everyone equally. You may be rich and famous, but you still got to suffer the cancellation of big plans like everyone else. Case in point, Barack Obama, who planned a mammoth, star-studded 60th birthday bash on Martha’s vineyard. The party guest list included 500 people alongside 200 hired hands and Hollywood biggies like George Clooney, Steven Spielberg, and Oprah Winfrey. The Obama family decided to cancel the grand party as coronavirus cases continue to rise at an uncontrollable rate.
In a statement, Obama’s spokeswoman, Hannah Hankins, told The New York Times: ‘Due to the new spread of the Delta variant over the past week, the President and Mrs. Obama have decided to significantly scale back the event to include only family and close friends. He’s appreciative of others sending their birthday wishes from afar and looks forward to seeing people soon.” It makes you wonder if it was just the rise in the number of cases or the backlash the family received online that led to the party’s cancellation. The internet didn’t hold back to diss the party decision, with one Twitter user commenting: “Will they be wearing masks while sipping their champagne?”
Another dubbed the event altogether, “Obama set to hold Covid Super Spreader Event.” Another user said, “The elite do not have to follow the rules they have set for us.” the same emotion was echoed by Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, who said that big parties should be avoided. ‘If you’re talking about a small party like I might have at my house for six or eight people who are all fully vaccinated, I do not believe, at this point, we need to put masks on to be next to each other,’ he said. ‘But if there were 100 people, and, of course, how are you really going to be sure about people’s vaccination status?’ he continued.
Just imagine if this party was for Trump. https://t.co/gg4wrGI4Ua
— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) August 2, 2021
Obama’s spokesperson said the outdoor event on Saturday was planned months ago following all public health guidelines. But he and his wife Michelle Obama have now decided to limit its size. “President Obama is appreciative of others sending their birthday wishes from afar and looks forward to seeing people soon,” he mentioned.
[Via – BBC]
