Kelly Dodd appeared to mock COVID-19 precautions while day-drinking at a crowded restaurant in Newport Beach, California.
The Real Housewives of Orange County star took to her Instagram Story Saturday with some particularly tone-deaf videos from a group outing.
She shouted ‘Cheers!’ while raising a glass to ‘super spreaders’ with her fellow patrons, who appeared to be unbothered that the state surpassed 40,000 COVID-related deaths the same day.
COVIDiots: Kelly Dodd appeared to mock COVID-19 precautions while recently day-drinking at a crowded restaurant in Newport Beach, California
The 45-year-old enjoyed some Mai Tais at Billy’s at the Beach with her friends and cousin, who fake coughed after shouting: ‘Spread that s***!’
‘Nobody’s wearing a mask,’ another customer could be heard jokingly shouting, as the rest of the restaurant laughed.
She later defended herself, telling her 817K followers: ‘I’m getting a lot of hate because we’re at a restaurant we’re allowed to be at. We’re allowed to be at a restaurant, right?’
It comes after the California Department of Public Health lifted the state’s stay-at-home order earlier this week, leading many restaurants to resume outdoor dining.
Super spreaders: The Real Housewives of Orange County star took to her Instagram Story Saturday with some particularly tone-deaf videos from a group outing
Death toll milestone: She shouted ‘Cheers!’ while raising a glass to ‘super spreaders’ with her fellow patrons, who appeared to be unbothered that the state surpassed 40,000 COVID-related deaths the same day
Day-drinking: The 45-year-old enjoyed some Mai Tais at Billy’s at the Beach with her friends and cousin, who fake coughed after shouting: ‘Spread that s***!’
Breathe it in: ‘Nobody’s wearing a mask,’ another customer could be heard jokingly shouting, as the rest of the restaurant laughed
According to Johns Hopkins University, an average of 544 people a day have died from COVID in California over the past week, with one in 1,000 Californians having lost their lives to the coronavirus since it was first detected in the state.
The state’s death toll has rapidly risen since it faced the worst surge of the pandemic back in October, with Southern California hospitals facing 0% ICU capacity last month.
Although state officials reported earlier this week that hospitalization numbers are declining, many have criticized them for prematurely lifting the stay-at-home order.
Dodd previously faced backlash last April for some insensitive comments she made on Instagram, after she was criticized for frivolously traveling, against the CDC’s advisory.
She wrote: ‘Do you know how many people died from the H1N1, the swine flu or SARS?. It’s 25% get your facts straight you are only hearing numbers not the reality!
‘It’s God’s way of thinning the herd! If you are vulnerable or compromised stay inside. If you don’t protect others by wearings masks and gloves keep your distance and don’t go out if you are ill!! It’s common sense!’
Tone-deaf comment: Dodd previously faced backlash last April for some insensitive comments about the pandemic: ‘It’s God’s way of thinning the herd!’ (pictured in December, 2019)
Stupid thing to say: The reality TV personality most recently apologized for her words on Watch What Happens Live: ‘It was a stupid thing for me to say. It was insensitive and I apologize if I hurt or offended anybody, cause that wasn’t really my intention’
Chopping block: Dodd responded Friday to rumors (supposedly started by former costar Vicki Gunvalson) that she’s getting the chop from RHOC, writing on Twitter: ‘No I am not fired !!! Contacts haven’t come out yet ! Vicki stop being a hater ..’
The reality TV personality most recently apologized for her words on Watch What Happens Live, after host Andy Cohen overcame his own stint with COVID last year.
She said: ‘At the time, it was a question — like, “Why are all these people dying? … Why [do] pandemics happen like this? Is it God’s way of thinning the herd?”
‘It was a stupid thing for me to say. It was insensitive and I apologize if I hurt or offended anybody, cause that wasn’t really my intention. I got freaked out about it and in hindsight, it was the stupidest thing I’ve ever said.’
Dodd responded Friday to rumors (supposedly started by former costar Vicki Gunvalson) that she’s getting the chop from RHOC, writing on Twitter: ‘No I am not fired !!! Contacts haven’t come out yet ! Vicki stop being a hater ..’
She did however threaten to quit earlier this week on Instagram Live if costar Braunwyn Windham-Burke returns for season 16: ‘I know I cannot film with Braunwyn.
‘I know for a fact that I cannot film with her. There’s just no way and if she comes back then I’m out because I know for a fact that I cannot. She’s dangerous and calling people racists and homophobic.’
Meanwhile, Cohen recently hinted on Twitter that RHOC might be headed for a casting overhaul, after responding to calls to cancel the show: ‘I think you mean reBOOT.’
Reboot: Meanwhile, Andy Cohen recently hinted on Twitter that RHOC might be headed for a casting overhaul, after responding to calls to cancel the show: ‘I think you mean reBOOT’