Country music star Luke Bryan has found himself coming under fire this week after his Florida cigar bar reopened despite the state governor ordering bars and restaurants to stay closed until Monday.
Fox News reported that Bryan is co-owner of Shore Thing Cigars, a beer and cigar lounge in Watersound, along with Paul Copeland. The bar took to its Instagram story early Friday to post videos of its “grand re-opening” featuring a “karaoke night” amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re back!” the business captioned one photo of the bar.
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Two Instagram stories that have since been deleted have shown that the restaurant was not enforcing social distancing guidelines. One shows patrons mingling closely and less than six feet away from one another, with nobody wearing masks or gloves. One patron can even be seen sitting on someone else’s lap on a couch that was packed with people.
Fans have been taking to social media to blast Bryan and his business for not taking social distancing guidelines seriously as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
“Way to go @LukeBryanOnline @shorethingcigar for keeping the COVID going,” one social media user commented, with another adding, “Didn’t know this virus caused hearing loss? Stupidity continues.”
“I can’t wrap my head around this,” a third person commented. “They’ll be the ones, needing first responders to save their butts while putting their lives in danger doing so. Makes me sick.”
Didn’t know this virus caused hearing loss? Stupidity continues.
Luke Bryan’s Florida Cigar Bar/Karaoke Patrons Not Practicing Social Distancing https://t.co/DVvvb16whl
— Rod Black (@RodBlackTSN) May 2, 2020
I can’t wrap my head around this. They’ll be the ones, needing first responders to save their butts while putting their lives in danger doing so. Makes me sick.
— Irene™ (@IrenesTweeting) May 2, 2020
Both Shore Thing Cigars and Bryan himself refused to comment when contacted by reporters. This came after Florida’s stay-at-home order expired on Thursday, but Governor Ron DeSantis extended it until Monday, when they will be able to reopen at 25 percent capacity as phase one of the state’s reopening plan.
Restaurants will be allowed to provide outdoor dining options starting on Monday if their tables are spaced six feet apart. However, it’s unclear if Shore Things Cigars is legally considered a restaurant in Florida, as its website advertises that it sells “premium cigars and cold beers.”
This piece originally appeared in UpliftingToday.com and is used by permission.
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