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Mask off: DC mayor stirs outrage posing maskless for Dave Chapelle photo shortly before mask mandate takes effect DC mayor provokes outrage posing maskless for Dave Chappelle photo hours before indoor mask mandate takes effect
(about 8 hours later)
Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser is the latest politician to be labeled a hypocrite after critics saw red over a maskless photo of her with comedian Dave Chappelle taken shortly before her mandate took effect. Muriel Bowser is the latest politician to be labeled a hypocrite, after critics saw red over a maskless photo of the Washington DC mayor with comedian Dave Chappelle, taken shortly before her mandate came into operation.
The photo includes Bowser, Chappelle, district deputy mayor for planning and economic development John Falcicchio, and two others. No one is wearing a mask.  The photo, taken at the reopening of DC entertainment venue The Anthem, features Bowser, Chappelle, district deputy mayor for planning and economic development John Falcicchio, and two others. None is wearing a mask. 
“[Dave Chappelle] reopened [The Anthem] on Friday night!” Falcicchio captioned the photo with.  “DCisOpen and #Dave Chappelle reopened #The AnthemDC on Friday night!” Falcicchio captioned the photo on Twitter. 
Masking was already required at the venue “at all times,” but Facicchio did not say whether it was taken on the grounds of The Anthem or elsewhere. Bowser, however, announced on Thursday that every person over two must be masking indoors, regardless of their vaccination status.  Masking had already been required at the venue “at all times,” but Falcicchio did not say whether the photo had been taken on the grounds of The Anthem, or elsewhere. Bowser had announced on Thursday that every person over the age of two must wear a mask indoors in a public setting, regardless of their vaccination status. 
The mandate went into effect on Saturday morning, meaning the photo was taken hours before the new guidance kicked in.  The mandate came into effect on Saturday morning, meaning the photo was taken just hours before the new guidance kicked in. 
Another photo posted to Instagram - later deleted, but saved in screenshots - also showed what appeared to be a massive - and maskless - celebration of Bowser’s upcoming birthday on the night the photo was taken.  Another photo posted to Instagram – since deleted, but saved in screenshots – also showed what appeared to be a massive and equally maskless celebration of Bowser’s upcoming birthday, taken later the same night. 
DC is only the latest city to reinstate mask mandates in response to slowing vaccination rates and spiking cases.  DC is the latest city to reinstate a mask mandate in response to slowing vaccination rates and a spike in cases. 
“We will continue to do what is necessary to keep DC safe,” Bowser said when announcing the mask mandate.  “We will continue to do what is necessary to keep DC safe,” Bowser said when announcing the mandate. 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recently reversed its mask guidance, saying only weeks after announcing vaccinated individuals could drop pandemic-era precautions that things like indoor masking are still necessary in areas where cases are going up, a trend health experts have attributed to the delta variant.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reversed its guidance on masking. Only weeks after announcing that vaccinated individuals no longer needed to observe pandemic-era precautions, it said indoor masking was still necessary in areas where cases were going up – a trend health experts have attributed to the Delta variant. 
Critics, however, have argued that masks provide little protection compared to vaccination and the reinstatement of mask mandates could lead to further lockdowns, something that could be economically detrimental to businesses that have struggled through the pandemic.  Critics have argued that masks provide little protection compared to vaccination, however, and that the reinstatement of a mask mandate could lead to further lockdowns, which would be economically detrimental to businesses that have struggled through the pandemic. 
Politicians like Bowser have especially come under fire for sending the opposite message to the one they are preaching publicly. Politicians such as Bowser have come under fire for sending the opposite message via their private actions to the one they preach publicly.
The mayor’s celebrity photo was ripped into by critics, many of whom used it as prime proof that the mayor’s new mandate is “not about public health.” The mayor’s Anthem-evening photo was ripped into by critics, many of whom used it as proof that her new mandate was “not about public health.”
“Mayor Bowser made the mask mandate Saturday so she and the deputy mayor could get this maskless picture with Dave Chappelle last night,” Fox News’ Cameron Cawthorne tweeted. “Mayor Bowser made the mask mandate Saturday so she and the deputy mayor could get this maskless picture with Dave Chappelle last night,” Fox News’ Cameron Cawthorne tweeted. 
“Perhaps an answer to the question of why the DC mask mandate only went back into effect this morning,” Washington Examiner’s Jerry Dunleavy similarly added.  “Perhaps an answer to the question of why the DC mask mandate only went back into effect this morning,” concurred the Washington Examiner’s Jerry Dunleavy. 
Current DC Covid-19 regulations say that fully vaccinated people “may visit with a small group of fully vaccinated people in an indoor setting without need to wear a mask or social distance.” However, if it is “difficult” to know the vaccination status of all people taking part in such a gathering, fully vaccinated people have to wear a mask and social distance much like their unvaccinated peers. Current DC Covid-19 regulations say that fully vaccinated people “may visit with a small group of [other] fully vaccinated people in an indoor setting without the need to wear a mask or social distance.” However, if it is “difficult” to know the vaccination status of all people taking part in such a gathering, fully vaccinated people are required to wear a mask and social-distance like their unvaccinated peers.
Bowser has not directly commented on the photos, but she did celebrate Chappelle’s Friday evening show as part of the city reopening after a year of lockdowns.  Bowser hasn’t directly commented on the photos, but did celebrate Chappelle’s show on Friday as part of the city’s reopening after a year of lockdowns. 
“Washingtonians have waited months to be able to enjoy shows like this one again, and it makes it even sweeter to be able to reopen one of our favorite venues with a performance from one of the world’s most beloved comedians and a DC native, Dave Chappelle,” she wrote in a statement. “Washingtonians have waited months to be able to enjoy shows like this one again, and it makes it even sweeter to be able to reopen one of our favorite venues with a performance from one of the world’s most beloved comedians and a DC native, Dave Chappelle,” she wrote in a statement. 
Bowser was also releasing public messages on Friday urging other DC residents to mask up yet again.  Bowser posted public messages the same day urging DC residents to mask up yet again. 
The mayor was also accused of breaking her city’s Covid-19 restrictions in November when she traveled to Joe Biden’s presidential victory speech in Delaware at the time, a trip her office described as “essential travel” despite criticisms.  The mayor was accused of breaking her city’s Covid-19 restrictions in November, when she traveled to Joe Biden’s presidential victory speech in Delaware – a trip her office described as “essential travel.” 
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