California Governor Gavin Newsom claims he was 'very judicious' and only took his face mask off during Sunday's NFC Champions...
California Governor Gavin Newsom claims he was 'very judicious' and only took his face mask off during Sunday's NFC Championship game for a photo op with basketball legend Earvin 'Magic' Johnson.
'I was very judicious yesterday, very judicious' Newsom said during a press conference Monday.
'You'll see in the photo I did take, where Magic was kind enough, generous enough to ask me for a photograph - in my left hand's the mask, and I took a photo. The rest of the time I wore it, as we all should.'
He also reminded citizens to continue wearing their masks to prevent further spread of COVID-19, saying: 'I encourage everyone else to do so.'
However, California's Republican Caucus shared a photo of Newsom apparently maskless while seated in the stands Sunday.
'Newsom said he only took off his mask for the picture with Magic Johnson, to be gracious,' Sen. Melissa Melendez, who represents California's 28th District, commented as she retweeted the photo. 'Here’s Gavin, being all “gracious” again.'
California Governor Gavin Newsom claims he was 'very judicious' and only took his face mask off during Sunday's NFC Championship game for a photo op with Earvin 'Magic' Johnson
'I was very judicious yesterday ... In my left hand's the mask, and I took a photo,' Newsom said Monday. 'The rest of the time I wore it, as we all should.' (Pictured: Magic Johnson and Newsom without masks during Sunday's NFL game in Los Angeles)
However, California's Republican Caucus shared a photo of Newsom apparently maskless while seated in the stands Sunday
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and San Francisco Mayor London Breed were also spotted maskless during the Sunday's NFL game, defying state and local mandates.
State mask mandates require Californians to wear masks in all indoor public spaces and workplaces through February 15 regardless of vaccination status. In Los Angeles County, residents are expected to mask up in 'all indoor public settings, venues, gatherings, and public and private businesses'. Masks are also required at all outdoor mega events.
The City of Los Angeles also mandates masks for large events.
The smiling Democrats were seen posing barefaced for photographs with basketball legend Magic Johnson inside a box suite at the SoFi Stadium during yesterday's game that pitted the Los Angeles Rams against the San Francisco 49ers.
Issuing a statement to Fox 11 through his communications director, Garcetti acknowledged he took of his mask 'for a few moments during Sunday's game' and that he 'continues to encourage all Californians to do their part' as citizens continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.
DailyMail.com also reached out to Garcetti, Breed and the stadium for comment but did not receive an immediate response.
It appears some of the photos were taken outside the boxed-in suite, but it wouldn't make much difference at the So-Fi stadium, where masks are required indoors and outdoors during events with more than 5,000 people.
The politicians seemed to be mingling with celebrities inside a climate-controlled Google Cloud suite, located above the stadium's 100-level seats, Although food is served in the private box, the politicians were not eating when they posed maskless.
Newsom is seen with Magic Johnson at Sunday's NFC Championship game. Both are not wearing face coverings
San Francisco Mayor London Breed (left), Johnson (center) and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti (right) smile for the camera without masks in defiance of county and private rules
The smiling Democrats were seen posing barefaced for photographs inside a box suite at the SoFi Stadium during yesterday's game that pitted the Los Angeles Rams against the San Francisco 49ers. Johnson (center) is pictured flanked by unidentified football fans
State mask mandates require Californians to wear masks in all indoor public spaces and workplaces through February 15 regardless of vaccination status. Johnson (right) is pictured posing with fans in front of the field
Johnson shared snaps from the Los Angeles Rams versus the San Francisco 49ers game on Twitter, enraging law-abiding Californians
San Francisco's mayor snapped a selfie of herself at the game, wearing a 49ers jacket but no mask
Twitter followers questioned why she wasn't following protocol and wearing a mask during the game, which was attended by thousands
Republican state Assemblyman Kevin Kiley - who ran against Newsom during last year's recall - called the governor out on Twitter.
'In light of his conduct at the football game, and in light of what empirical data and common sense have long dictated, I'm calling on Gavin Newsom to end the school mask mandate,' Kiley tweeted.
State Sen. Melissa Melendez echoed Kiley's sentiment, saying: 'Toddlers are being forced to wear masks all day long in school. Maybe one day they’ll be governor or the mayor of LA and they won’t have the follow the rules they impose on others.'
The sight of the politicians smiling without face coverings - despite repeatedly preaching about their benefits - angered a number of other Californians.
'Why do my kids have to mask at recess tomorrow while you rich and connected folks get to ignore the rules?!?' tweeted @SurlMudgeon. 'Let them eat cake!'
Added @JonesJrH: 'So…Newsom creates a mandatory mask rule for the state…and completely ignores it. How very on brand.'
The SoFi Stadium, which hosted the NFC Championship game, requires masks for all attendees
Los Angeles County requires masks for all indoor public settings and outdoor mega events
California requires masks at indoor public spaces through February 15
Many questioned why they felt entitled to flaunt the rules despite requiring masks for school children throughout the duration of their several hour school days. Los Angeles County recently changed its rules to require medical-grade masks for students and teachers to combat an upswing in Covid cases.
The situation prompted Twitter user Peter Ferguson to pose a question to state health director Dr. Tomas Aragon.
He tweeted: '@DrTomasAragon any help understanding why my toddler is expected to mask, but not the governor?'
Said KingGregz: 'These are the people making your kids wear masks 7 hours a day, 5 days a week, while they yuck it up with each other.'
Breed also snapped a selfie of herself at the game and shared it to Twitter, where followers questioned why she wasn't wearing a mask.
Californians called the politicians out on Twitter for going maskless in a venue that requires face coverings for all mega events
Though masks are required at the stadium, most of fans weren't wearing them during Sunday's game, which the Rams won 20-17.
Celebrities in attendance - including Rob Lowe, Jessica Alba, and Rebel Wilson - also appeared maskless. Leonardo DiCaprio was seen wearing a mask - but it rested below his mouth and nose, rendering it useless.
It's not the first time Newsom was caught defying pandemic health orders.
He enraged Californians in November 2020 after being photographed dining and mingling inside the French Laundry, a high-end Napa Valley restaurant, without a mask.
During the time, much of the state was on lockdown and Californians were expected to wear masks in public. The scandal nearly led to his recall as Californians grew tired of his purported hypocrisy.
In Los Angeles County, 16,835 people tested positive for Covid on January 30; more than 28,000 people have died from the virus in the county since the pandemic began.
Also in attendance was LA native Leonardo DiCaprio, who was spotted chatting with a male friend with his mask below his mouth
Actress and Honest Company founder Jessica Alba was among the scores of fans defying the stadium's mask rules
Rebel Wilson also took in the game without a face covering despite local mandates requiring them for large-scale events
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