The fun game of “COVID-19 Gotcha” – where prominent people are accused of hypocrisy — continued this weekend as Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer had to apologize for ignoring her own instructions on social distancing.
The Democrat said “sorry” after a photo of her with a large – and cozy, by appearances – group made the rounds.
The photo of Whitmer’s group – unmasked as well — showed them to be in close proximity with tables pushed together at The Landshark Bar & Grill in East Lansing, Mich.
The state still requires social distancing at restaurants, with no more than six people at tables.
“It was an honest mistake, and I have apologized for it,” Whitmer said at a Monday news conference. “I think that we have specifically not gone forward and penalized businesses trying to do the right thing. It’s those that have flouted and put people’s safety at risk that are the most concerning.
“I don’t know that there’s a lot more for me to add at this point in time, other than those former Spartans … who know the establishment should be aware that it’s now a restaurant, and they have pretty good pizza.”
Whitmer joined the list of politicians involved in “COVID-19 Gotcha.” Most prominent on the list is California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who faces a recall election in his state.
Photos showed him socializing maskless at a restaurant in wine country north of San Francisco, and he faced backlash after attending a 12-person birthday party at the French Laundry restaurant in November 2020.
Whitmer very likely is eagerly awaiting the end of COVID-19 restrictions.
“We’re hoping that people can understand when you’re indoors it’s inherently a little bit riskier, especially if you’re not vaccinated,” Whitmer said earlier in the press conference. “July 1 we will be back to normal, and that’s a good thing.”
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