Influencers such as Addison Rae and Nikita Dragun have been taking heat for their behavior during the pandemic. Some have chosen to travel and go to parties, which, despite their claims of regular testing, has caused an outcry from critics who point out that they’ve been explicitly told to stay home.
Now their tiny masks, nowhere near the CDC recommendation’s size, are causing more frustration.
Rae left the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon sporting … uh, whatever this was:
It actually looks like the face shields hair artists use to protect the eyes and skin while applying spray.
TikTok joined in the outrage:
Dragun, meanwhile, holds a shield up when she bumps into paparazzi and fans, which is … not acceptable.
It’s not entirely limited to “influencers”, though I think we should certainly pause and consider why we respect these people in the first place. Singer Lana Del Rey has also received some backlash for what looked like a mesh mask; she said it was actually lined.
The CDC says masks need at least two layers, need to cover the nose and mouth, and fit snugly so air can’t escape.