The Los Angeles County Health Department issued a response claiming there are exceptions for film and television after actor Seth Rogen called out Covid violations on-stage during the 2021 Emmy Awards.
Comments made by Rogen about the amount of people attending the indoor award show prompted widespread concern about hypocrisy and disproportionate enforcement of Covid regulations for Hollywood.
“Let me start by saying there is way too many of us in this little room,” he joked.
“What are we doing? They said this was outdoors. It’s not. They lied to us. … We’re in a hermetically sealed tent right now. I would not have come to this. Why is there a roof? It’s more important that we have three chandeliers than to make sure we don’t kill Eugene Levy tonight. That has been decided.”
In a statement obtained by the Los Angeles Times, the health department claimed the awards show, where hundreds of Hollywood elite gathered without masks, was exempt because they implemented additional safety modifications.
“LA County’s Health Officer order requires everyone to wear a mask indoors, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated. However, exceptions are made for film, television, and music productions, as additional safety modifications are made for these controlled interactions,” reads the county’s response to the Times.
“The Emmy Award Show is a television production, and persons appearing on the show are considered performers. All persons appearing on or in the audience of the Emmy Award Show were fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Also, Public Health was informed that each of these persons had a verified negative PCR test 48 hours prior to the show.”
The health department also noted the award show was additionally exempt because they contacted the department beforehand and required guests be vaccinated.
“The Emmys reached out to Public Health in advance to share their safety protocols, which exceeded the baseline requirements for television and film productions,” the health department told the Times.
“Careful planning before large events is essential to assure that all health and safety requirements are adequately addressed. … Public Health will continue review the protocols of future large television production events and prescribe additional safety modifications to mitigate risk of COVID-19 transmission.”
The health department’s defense of the large celebrity gathering was panned on social media.
The Times notes that, while Hollywood actors attending award ceremonies are exempt, “those not actively participating in a music, TV or film production are still required to wear face coverings indoors in L.A” whether vaccinated or unvaccinated.