De Blasio ‘Shocked’ by Report on COVID Czar Partying During Lockdowns

Former NYC Mayor Reacts to Video of Senior Health Adviser Admitting to Party Attendance

Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has expressed his shock and disappointment after a recent report revealed that a former city official in charge of the COVID-19 pandemic admitted to partying during lockdowns.

Senior Health Adviser’s Admission

According to a video posted by conservative podcaster Steven Crowder, Jay K. Varma, who was City Hall’s senior health adviser under then-mayor de Blasio, acknowledged attending sex and dance parties during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite urging the city’s residents to practice social distancing, Varma attended parties, including a sex party on Wall Street, during the height of the pandemic.

Varma’s Statement

In the video, Varma described attending a party under a bank in Wall Street, saying, “We went to some, like underground, like dance party, like underneath a bank in Wall Street. And we were all rolling. We were all taking molly and everybody’s high and I was so happy because I hadn’t done that in a … year or whatever. But I was looking around like, I wonder if anybody sees me, they’re gonna be pissed because this was not COVID-friendly.”

Varma told The New York Times that the video was authentic but added that the recordings were “spliced, diced, and taken out of context.” The physician also admitted to attending three parties between August 2020 and June 2021.

De Blasio’s Reaction

During his appearance on NewsNation’s show “The Hill,” de Blasio expressed his shock and disappointment, saying, “I had no knowledge of it. I find it disgusting and unacceptable. This is someone we trusted as a teammate to tell the people of New York City, from as extensive medical background, how we could keep everyone safe. And that also meant we all had to show integrity and consistency.”

De Blasio emphasized the importance of integrity and consistency during the pandemic, stating, “We were all in this together, and we all had to make sacrifices. And to see someone who was supposed to be leading by example, who was supposed to be setting an example, not only failing to do that but actually engaging in behavior that was the opposite of what they were telling people to do, is just unacceptable.”

Call for Apology

De Blasio called on Varma to issue an apology, primarily to the people of New York City, saying, “It’s painful, it’s unacceptable. I have not heard the audio. I hope he has apologized to his colleagues, and, even more so, to the people in New York City. He owes everyone an apology, for sure.”

Background on the Pandemic

During the height of the pandemic, Varma urged people to wear a mask and practice social distancing. He also contributed to making the city’s vaccine policies. As the city’s senior health adviser, Varma was responsible for providing guidance and advice to the public on how to stay safe during the pandemic.

Conclusion

The revelation of Varma’s partying during lockdowns has sparked widespread outrage and disappointment. As a former city official, Varma was entrusted with the responsibility of leading the city’s response to the pandemic, and his actions have compromised the trust of the public. De Blasio’s call for an apology is a necessary step towards restoring that trust.

FAQs

Q: Who is Jay K. Varma?
A: Jay K. Varma is a former senior health adviser to the City of New York during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Q: What did Varma admit to in the video?
A: Varma admitted to attending sex and dance parties during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, despite urging the public to practice social distancing.

Q: Did de Blasio know about Varma’s partying?
A: No, de Blasio said he had no knowledge of Varma’s partying during the pandemic.

Q: What did de Blasio say about Varma’s actions?
A: De Blasio called Varma’s actions “disgusting and unacceptable” and said they were “painful” and “unacceptable” for the people of New York City.