As of Tuesday, the United States has reported 15.2M cases of COVID-19. 286,000 people have died from the virus. In Ohio, on the same day, those statistics were 510,000 reported cases and 7,103 deaths. And yet, just three nights before those numbers posted, 500 people packed into a 15,000 square foot club in Columbus, Ohio for a Trey Songz performance. No one wore masks. Everyone sweated and danced, close together, as if it was a normal, virus-less year. Trey, who contracted the virus himself last October and had promised to “take it seriously”, sang to his fans pressed up against the stage, with no physical barriers between them. Not even the club’s staff wore any form of PPE. The event had been well advertised in advance and well documented with photos of the crowd and complete lack of any social distancing blasted all over social media. However, they weren’t allowed to slide this time. The club, named The Aftermath *snicker*, has been cited and the matter has been turned over to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office who will work with the Ohio Liquor Control Commission on the case.
An Ohio club was cited for “egregious violations” of health orders after hundreds of maskless fans desperate to see R&B singer Trey Songz packed the indoor venue.
Undercover agents observed roughly 500 people late Saturday at the jam-packed, 15,000-square-foot nightspot in a Columbus shopping plaza, the Ohio Investigative Unit said in a statement.
“Patrons were congregated throughout the premises with no attempts to maintain social distancing and no physical barriers in place,” authorities said.
“Agents observed patrons standing, walking freely and sharing alcoholic beverages directly from the same bottle as they were passed between groups.”
The club, Aftermath, also had no physical barriers in place and “most of the crowd” weren’t wearing masks or practicing social distancing, the agency said.
The venue was cited for improper conduct and disorderly activities. The incident has been referred to the Ohio Liquor Control Commission for potential penalties, including the revocation of its liquor license, authorities said.
I am so frustrated with these stories, I wish this’d play out like a Hollywood movie scene, where masked authorities bust in and rip the club’s liquor license off the wall, leaving a sign reading “COVID – and the Commission – come for everyone.” But apparently this will all be by the book and Variety reports it will take a few weeks for the case to even be heard by the Liquor Control Commission. They also get to decide the penalty. However, People reported that the city of Columbus did temporarily,“shut the establishment down pending further separate court action.” I also wish Trey or his label would get some form of slap on the wrist too, even if it was symbolic. Trey apparently also held a show in Texas prior to Ohio, but took down all evidence from his social media after the Ohio backlash.
CB just wrote about the need to start coming after violators in the US like they do in Britain and I agree with her. I read tweets like this from doctors and nurses and I just think violators need more than a tsking. Putting my dramatic hat back on, at the very least, these people who blatantly ignored rules and restrictions cancelled the holidays for the rest of us. At the most, they’ve contributed to the deaths of what will soon be 300K Americans.
Instagram and Getty Images
I know its not the point but RISK YOUR LIFE for Trey Songs not even our saviour Beyonce.
I wish people doing dumb stuff like this could be charged for endangering public health.
Someone I know posted pics of her kid gathered with a bunch of friends a couple weeks ago. No masks, no distancing. Surprise! The family now has Covid, including the elderly grandparents.
Why are people so stupid and selfish? I JUST DON’T GET IT.
I was listening to a podcast the other day where they mentioned this. They brought up a good point which was this pandemic is showing how poorly these artists manage their money.clearly he needs the money because I can’t think of any reason for this level of stupidity.
My family lives in Columbus and despite the COVID surge they are not taking it seriously/taking precautions. My nephew still has basketball practice and tournaments across the state. No one in the stands are wearing masks or distancing.
This violation does not surprise me AT ALL!
Who’s willing to die got a trey songs concert?
Everyone who violated should have to go work in a Covid ward so they can see how dire the situation is. I think I’m Indonesia, Covid deniers have to dig graves.
What a moron he is and so are the people who attended the show. He had the virus a few months ago and posted a video telling people to say home. Just a few months later his tune has changed. Hypocrite.
Idiot. Assuming because he had COVID he’s immune. So screw everyone else.
You break quarantine in Hawaii & you get a $5000 fine. Know how police find you? Hotel employees will rat you out. Some issue one-time only card keys, forcing you to come to the front desk if you’ve left your room & bingo! you’ve just told on yourself & you will be reported. Cleaners know when you’ve checked in & know when you’ve left your room, and they will report you. Other times, quarantine-breakers post their fab vacay in Hawaii on their various SM & citizens report them to cops, who follow-up. Or they post their big party on the beach–as happened recently on Maui–and police show up. $5000 fines for everyone. Dummies.
@BeanieBean Good. And it should be more $$. Glad to hear at least one place is handling things. Trey and the establishment should be fined and cited for public endangerment as should any other venues and groups hosting such events (including the maskless schools and training facilities). As per CB number above, that means over 21% of the US population has covid. That’s disgusting. And almost 300,000 dead but what about the numbers of those recovering who have lifelong health conditions. So basically now, 1 in 5 people has it and if they didn’t die from it, have some sort of complication from mild to severe and could spread it again. God, I wish I lived in a safer country. My anxiety has gone through the roof from so many factors but the maskless people are the main reason.