18Comments
A mayor in Walton, Kentucky has apologized after going on a sweary rant on Facebook aimed at people who aren't taking the coronavirus seriously enough.
"Listen up dipshits and sensible people," Mayor Gabe Brown wrote to the Boone County neighborhood group on Facebook, in a post that has since gone viral for its, let's say, "forthright" tone.
"I might not have the best bedside manor [sic]. I might not put you at ease like the Governor does, but I don't care. You need to realize this is a serious ordeal. In fact, it's a big f**cking deal. Stay at home."
The mayor, in his own words, had "lost [his] shit".
"I pray every night that the State, County, and region that I love with all of my heart will stop doing nonsensical things. Treat this seriously. If you don’t, then screw you (f#ck you is what I want to say, but I can’t)," his post continued.
"This will pass. Take it seriously. It is here. Act like you have the virus and don’t spread it to other people. I have no doubt that it hasn’t already been here, but testing had been limited. More cases are coming. If you ignore this problem, the worst thing that could happen is that your mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, aunts, uncles could die."
In a masterclass of passive-aggressive signoffs, he finished:
"Be responsible. If you don't, then screw you. Warmest regards, Mayor Gabe Brown."
It received a mixed response, with some people annoyed about the cussing.
While others praised the message itself.
Brown has since followed up the posts with an apology of sorts, writing:
"It has been brought to my attention that I may have, in fact, lost my shit. For that I apologize. I probably could've handled all of your comments with a little more tact and professionalism. Then again, some of you got told what you should've. Wash your hands you filthy animals."
He has since given less colorful apologies, after the post went somewhat viral, appearing on several major news outlets. You can't say he wasn't effective in getting his message heard, though. The mayor told Local12, “I kind of had enough and blew my top, I guess," adding that he wished he'd used "a little better language".
Nevertheless, when he was asked about people attending coronavirus parties he made his feelings clear, without the swearing.
“Anybody who’s had a COVID-19 party is a special kind of stupid," he told Local12. "I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Wash your hands, you filthy animals. That’s all I got.”
