Newsom's TikTok Video With George Lopez Inside Off-Limits Restaurant Goes Viral, Sparks Backlash
California Governor Gavin Newsom posted a TikTok video appearing inside a restaurant with celebrity George Lopez at a county where indoor dining is not allowed. Fox News reported that Newsom posted a video in his TikTok account with George Lopez talking about how residents could find their coronavirus vaccine eligibility.
According to New York Post, Newsom and Lopez, both wearing masks, were inside Los Amigos Mexican Restaurant in Fresno, California during the recording of the TikTok video.
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In Defense of Gavin Newsom on the Controversial TikTok Video With George Lopez
Breitbart News reported that Newsom's spokesperson said the governor did not dine at the restaurant and he was only there to meet with the restaurant's owners, who received a relief grant.
The TikTok video, first posted on Newsom's account, has already spread to other social media platforms like Twitter. Another video of George Lopez appeared to the Los Amigos restaurant's Facebook page. The celebrity was endorsing the restaurant's food.
In the TikTok video, Gavin Newsom and George Lopez talked about where to look for COVID-19 vaccine eligibility.
"George you gotta go to myturn.ca.gov," Newsom said after Lopez asked him on how do he find out if he can get a vaccination. George Lopez thanked him for the information and Newsom replied, "It's wonderful to be of service."
Fresno, which is in the most restrictive purple tier, does not allow for indoor dining. A purple tier area means it has "widespread" coronavirus infections.
Gavin Newsom Faces Backlash
Gavin Newsom was reportedly slammed for filming the TikTok video inside the restaurant despite banning indoor dining. He previously received his share of backlash from everyone when he flouted his own COVID-19 rules by dining at a swanky restaurant.
In early November, the governor was seen dining at the French Laundry restaurant in Napa for his longtime adviser's birthday. Indoor dining was not allowed in Napa. Newsom earned backlash for it.
But in response to his actions, Newsom expressed his apology for his actions that came from a governor like himself, who mandated some of the severe restrictions to prevent the spread of the virus.
Fox News cited Newsom's words saying he wanted to "own" his mistakes as he worried that it would undermine the message of safety he wanted to send to the public. Newsom added that he's doing his best "every single day in trying to model better behavior."
The French Laundry dining reportedly ignited a recall effort that's gaining traction in California. According to the organizers of the Newsom recall effort, they have already garnered 1.825 million signatures, noting that the group needs 1.5 million signatures by March 17.
Kevin Faulconer, the governor's competitor should the recall race succeed, slammed Newsom for being in a restaurant when others are not allowed to do so.
John Burke, communications director for Kevin Faulconer for Governor, told Fox News, that Gavin Newsom continued to show he is "nothing but an incompetent elitist who could care less about California families."
Burke noted that Newsom's failures have crippled the state's economy and upended the lives of millions of families, adding that they will recall him and will bring the California state back on track.
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