(Headline USA) New Orleans Democrat Mayor LaToya Cantrella was caught partying maskless this weekend, just weeks after reinstating the city’s indoor mask mandate.
Cantrell was seen at a Mardi Gras Ball in Gallier Hall, singing karaoke maskless with two other women who were also not wearing masks. More than 100 short videos of the event were posted online but were deleted shortly after.
New Orleans Democrat Mayor Latoya Cantrell is seen partying maskless at Mardi Gras party https://t.co/7GjHhg8yzl
— Daily Mail US (@DailyMail) February 22, 2022
Other Democratic officials who were also at the event maskless include city council members and the Orleans Parish School Board president, who has forced children in New Orleans’ public schools to wear masks for more than a year.
Photos include: New Orleans Mayor, city council members, and the Orleans Parish School Board president. pic.twitter.com/uKyI7x7jc8
— Sam (@SamSullivan) February 21, 2022
Cantrell’s spokesman Beau Tidwell admitted in a statement that city officials did not follow a “perfect adoption of the guidelines in every instance” at the ball.
However, he said the mayor has no intention of repealing the indoor mask mandate until the end of Mardi Gras.
“The mask guidelines and the vaccination requirement will remain in effect thru Mardi Gras,” he said, according to Fox News.
“That has not changed and it will not change. Under the current guidelines, masks may be removed indoors while eating and drinking,” the spokesman said.
“While we did not see perfect adoption of the guidelines in every instance over the weekend, we were encouraged overall by the level of masking and vigilance we saw on the parade route and at ball events.”
More than 100 plaintiffs have sued Cantrell and the New Orleans Health Department over the mask mandates, which they have claimed is a violation of their constitutional rights.