YouTube and TikTok personalities sparked outrage over an “insane” party that spurned masks and social distancing amid a Covid-19 pandemic.
Video posted online on Wednesday night showed social media stars such as James Charles, Charli and Dixie D’Amelio, and Tana Mongeau descend on Los Angeles to dance despite coronavirus.
YouTuber Nikita Dragun hosted the bash at Hollywood Hills’ Hype House to celebrate TikTok personality Larri Merritt’s birthday, reported BuzzFeed.
The crowd posted photos and videos on social media showing dancing and drinking without distancing or mask wearing.
That came as Los Angeles’ mayor warned “we’ve never had as many people infected or infectious”, as the city’s Covid-19 threat level neared its highest level last week.
Wednesday’s party soon sparked condemnation on Twitter, where YouTube star Tyler Oakley said the party-goers were “bad influences”.
“If your favourite influencers are at huge house parties during a pandemic (& are dumb enough to post it on social media)… they are bad influences. unfollow them.”
In another post, he told the party-goers to “please consider social distancing, mask wearing, & using your huge platforms to encourage responsibility during a worldwide pandemic’.
Those comments came as New Jersey authorities announced attempts to trace teenagers who attended a party connected to 20 new Covid-19 cases.
“We’re asking and pleading with parents and the students that may have attended that,” Middletown mayor Tony Perry told ABC News. “You’re not in any trouble, but we want to break the back of this infection.”
Authorities also appealed to those who attended the New Jersey party to self-isolate for 14 days in order to stop Covid-19’s spread.
Mr Merritt, also known as Larri, wrote on Twitter that he had been “dumb” to attend the bash in Los Angeles.
He wrote to Mr Oakley: “I understand 100 per cent where ur coming from & it was a dumb thing to do. I will do better & will actually take this s*** seriously. appreciate you Tyler much love.”
Los Angeles public health department announced 2,014 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday, with 166,848 since the pandemic started. That was down on 3,266 cases documented on Wednesday.
