Maskless Barack Obama Hits Dance Floor at His Huge B-Day Party as COVID-19 Cases Surge in US - Video
14:29 GMT 08.08.2021 (Updated: 18:14 GMT 08.08.2021)
© AFP 2023 / Saul Loeb
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According to local media, the 44th US president originally planned to host around 500 guests, served by 200 staff, but decided to scale down the bash because of the spread of the Delta COVID strain, which is said to be more transmissible, causes severe cases, and finds a way to evade vaccines.
Former US President Barack Obama was captured on video dancing maskless at his massive 60th birthday party. The video was posted by R&B and soul singer Erykah Badu, who performed at the event with her band. It shows the birthday boy showing off his moves on the stage and then hugging a woman.
Erykah Badu dancing with President Obama tonight at his 60th birthday party. Everybody in Martha’s Vineyard this weekend! pic.twitter.com/qrgzWDaVte
— 3x Olympic Shadethrower 🏅 (@KarltonTV) August 8, 2021
The event has drawn criticism from Republican lawmakers as well as ordinary people online, who accused the former president of failing to follow coronavirus safety rules at a time when coronavirus cases are mushrooming in the United States. According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the average number new of cases for the past seven days stands at around 100,000.
After the video and news of Obama’s huge party went viral, guests had to delete photos showing themselves at the grandiose event, the New York Post reported. Sputnik has been unable to verify this claim.
"Had to delete everything due to the rules. It was epic for sure. If any videos surface it’s going viral. He danced the whole time. Nobody ever seen Obama like this before", said TJ Chapman, as per the tabloid. Chapman is the manager of rapper Trap Beckham, who performed at the event.
Erykah Badu's video showing the former president dancing without a mask on also disappeared from her Instagram account.
Both TJ Chapman and Trap Beckham posted Instagram stories and photos, which showed the décor and food at the birthday party, as well as themselves smoking marijuana, which is legal in Massachusetts, where the event was held.
As mentioned earlier, the Obamas reportedly intended to scale back the event, with only family and close friends being invited, but according to local media, hundreds of guests attended the event, among them actors, directors, musicians, TV hosts, and politicians.
One social media user joked that the pandemic seems to be over and that life can get back to normal after seeing the former president and his guests partying without wearing masks.
Obama dancing hugging chilling. Everything can go back to normal now. Pandemic is over. pic.twitter.com/ASnGyJKiGF
— Bobby Stanley Jr. 🇺🇸⚖️ (@bobbyfatz) August 8, 2021
Others were less restrained and branded the politician a hypocrite.
What a freakin joke!!!!
— DT (@DT31968235) August 8, 2021
Hypocrites and frauds.
— boorad (@boorad1234) August 8, 2021
Still others lamented the double standards in US society.
Remember peasants, your granny’s funeral is a super spreader event but Obamas party is just fine
— jimmy00 (@jimmy_777q) August 8, 2021
And these are the people who want indoor mask mandates, even for the fully vaccinated. Hilarious.
— Orlando Duval (@ODuvalX) August 8, 2021
One user labelled the party a super spreader event.
How many people are the Obama's going to kill with their supper spreader event they had ? pic.twitter.com/qMcpL6XMji
— Don Lemon's cookie jar (@Don_Lemon_jar) August 8, 2021
