The cameras earned them a mask pass.
Los Angeles health officials are defending the 2021 Emmy Awards as a justified “exception” to the local mask mandate after the show faced backlash for its maskless A-list guests.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said that the awards show had been in contact with health officials about its COVID-19 protocols.
“LA County’s Health Officer requires everyone to wear a mask indoors, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated,” the agency said in a statement to CNN reporter Oliver Darcy. “However, exceptions are made for film, television and music productions, as additional safety modifications are made for these controlled interactions.”
The health agency said the show’s rules, which included requiring all attendees to be vaccinated against the virus as well as take a PCR test 48 priors to the event, had “exceeded the baseline requirements for television and film productions.”
“Careful planning before large events is essential to assure all health and safety requirements are adequately addressed,” the statement said.
“Public Health will continue to review the protocols of future large television production events and prescribe additional safety modifications to mitigate risk of COVID-19 transmission,” it continued.
Sunday’s awards show, however, had received criticism online for seemingly flouting mask rules.
No distancing, no masks. Clearly a slap in the face for all the font line workers that are still dealing with the pandemic. Check your privilege @TheEmmys#Emmys,” another said.
One added, “No Masks at the #Emmys because rules are for the little people.”
