A server filmed Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts failing to wear a face mask when he was with a group of people at a bar on election night. She was fired after the video went viral.
Karina Montanez saw Ricketts and his group sans masks at DJ’s Dugout, where she was working as a server at the time. She began filming and later posted the video to Twitter with the caption: “bald headed ricketts in the building y’all!”
“Hey, Pete, where’s your mask? Where’s your mask, Pete?” Montanez says in the video. “What are you doing, Pete? We’re in a pandemic, Pete.”
Since being posted on Nov. 3, the video has garnered more than 25,000 views. The video reportedly only went viral after state Senator Megan Hunt (D-Nebr.) promoted it.
“I wasn’t bashing the restaurant,” Montanez told KPTM. “Yes, the video was recorded in the restaurant but the purpose of the video was to show people how our governor is about while we’re in this pandemic where people are literally dying.”
Montanez was reportedly fired for using her phone while at work, which is a violation of company policy.
“Although the social media post is believed to be political in nature, DJ’s Dugout respects each of its employee’s political affiliations, beliefs, and activities permitted under law; however, these political affiliations, beliefs, and activities do not represent those of DJ’s Dugout,” Sunni Renner, the CEO of the DJ’s Dugout, told KPTM in a statement.
A spokesperson for Ricketts told KPTM that the governor wore a face mask to get into the bar—and when he exited—but removed it when he was inside. “The Governor removes his mask temporarily for pictures and did so that evening. The Governor also removed his mask when sitting down at the establishment. The state does not require people to wear masks when seated in bars or restaurants,” the spokesperson said.
Montanez, who is a single mother, alerted her followers on Nov. 17 that she was “fired for posting this tweet.” People are now sending her money via Venmo and Cash App. “Y’all have no idea how much better u guys are making me feel today by having my back on this shituation,” she tweeted.
The Daily Dot has reached out to Karina Montanez and Gov. Pete Ricketts’ office.
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*First Published: Nov 19, 2020, 5:30 pm
Eilish O’Sullivan
Eilish O’Sullivan is the news wire editor for the Daily Dot. Her work has appeared in the Austin Chronicle and the Daily Texan.
Source : https://www.dailydot.com/debug/nebraska-governor-pete-ricketts-server-fired/