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Tana Mongeau and Erika Costell called out for "irresponsible" COVID party video
27 July 2020, 16:52
Tana Mongeau shares video from inside Jake Paul's pandemic house party
Tana Mongeau and Erika Costell have apologised after attending a "COVID party"
YouTubers Tana Mongeau and Erika Costell have apologised after attending a "COVID party" and then uploading a video to Instagram stories in which they said they "don't care" (July 26).
The video was quickly condemned by the internet, as people interpreted Tana and Erika's comments as a dismissal of concerns about coronavirus and the increase in parties, often involving YouTubers, and how they might influence their young fans to also attend parties during the pandemic.
While many countries in Europe are easing their lockdown restrictions, the picture in the United States is still very concerning. According to The New York Times map and case count (July 27), cases of the virus are "surging". New York and California, the states with the most known cases, have had recorded more than 847,000 people with coronavirus. In total across the country at least 146,700 people have died.
READ MORE: Jake Paul's huge house party slammed by the mayor of Calabasas
That is to say, people still need to take the virus seriously and practice social distancing. But when YouTubers attend parties which don't adhere to social distancing rules, it sends the wrong message.
The parties have caused such concern that Calabasas Mayor Alicia Weintraub recently called out Jake Paul for hosting one such party.
Here is the video of Tana and Erika at the party over the weekend.
Tana Mongeau says “Listen, we don’t f**king care” in video where she and Erika Costell appear to be in house party. Tana went to 2 other COVID parties at Jake Paul’s house and Hype House. Notably, James Charles apologized yesterday for Hype House party. What are your thoughts? pic.twitter.com/mV4FX6H5Xg
— Def Noodles (@defnoodles) July 26, 2020
Tana and Erika's video was universally called out online, with fellow YouTubers and influencers also adding to the chorus of condemnation.
It follows a tweet by OG YouTuber Tyler Oakley last week (July 22) calling on influencers with huge platforms to act more responsibly during the pandemic.
hi @jamescharles @NikitaDragun @tanamongeau @larrayxo @charlidamelio @dixiedamelio & any others who have been partying in large groups - please consider social distancing, mask wearing, & using your huge platforms to encourage responsibility during a worldwide pandemic. https://t.co/G3CeWfk3uZ
— tyler oakley (@tyleroakley) July 22, 2020
nah, grow the fuck up @tanamongeau @erikacostell. i don’t care what “drama” this was in regards to, you are STILL partying during a pandemic that has left 149,000 people dead. you are adults. tell your millions of followers this is NOT OK and go fucking quarantine yourselves https://t.co/sfC6BJfe8i
— elijah daniel (@elijahdaniel) July 27, 2020
We’ve been in this for 4 months. We’ve all been in this. We’re all in this together. Your actions through this reflect on us all. If you do something bad, we all look bad. So excuse me when I say a simple note app apology doesn’t erase the damage. Do better or say nothing at all.
— mac kahey (@MacDoesIt) July 27, 2020
Following the reaction online, both Tana and Erika have now issued an apology.
In her note on Stories, Tana claimed that she and Erika were referring to their "past drama" when they said 'we don't care', and they were not referring to the global pandemic.
Erika confirmed this story but acknowledged that the timing was "insensitive and careless".
— Erika Costell (@erikacostell) July 27, 2020
