This past Saturday, popular DJ duo the Chainsmokers put on a concert in Southampton, Long Island…and it did not look like a socially distant affair.
Though the event was promoted as a “drive-in experience,” photos and videos on social media showed otherwise. Crowds (not standing six feet apart) congregated up by the stage, instead of remaining spaced out outside their cars as originally planned.
The event took place in a 100-acre outdoor sculpture park, and ticket proceeds went to local charities like No Kid Hungry, Children’s Medical Fund of NY and Southampton Fresh Air Home, according to Billboard.com—oh, and tickets ranged from $1,250 to $25,000.
They promoted temperature checks, free face masks, and hand sanitizer all around, and that security guards would patrol the space to enforce social distancing rules. The event organizers stood by this afterwards in a statement to the New York Times.
But, with so much photo and video evidence of “egregious social distancing violations,” Governor Cuomo said that the state would be launching an investigation into the event.
Videos from a concert held in Southampton on Saturday show egregious social distancing violations. I am appalled.
The Department of Health will conduct an investigation.
We have no tolerance for the illegal & reckless endangerment of public health.https://t.co/gf9kggdo8w
— Archive: Governor Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) July 28, 2020
The NY State Health Commissioner also sent a letter to the town supervisor, calling it “an obvious public health threat.”
NYS Health Commissioner Howard Zucker sent a letter to Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman about the event: pic.twitter.com/59PEjymg2O
— tanya chen (HOT-tistic) (@tanyachen) July 27, 2020
In other news: Famous 1920s NYC Speakeasy Chumley’s Has Reportedly Closed For Good
featured image source: Shutterstock / Video Still