Ron DeSantis had a Karen moment.
The governor on Wednesday was supposed to make a run-of-the-mill announcement at the University of South Florida about state investments in cyber security workforce education. A group of high-school students stood in the back wearing masks.
The governor was triggered.
As he walked to the podium, DeSantis stopped, faced the students — and ranted.
“You do not have to wear those masks,” the leader of Florida said, jabbing his finger in their faces. “Please take them off. Honestly, it’s not doing anything. We’ve got to stop with this COVID theater. So if you wanna wear it, fine, but this is ridiculous.”
He did everything but demand to “speak to the manager.”
How dare those youngsters ruin the governor’s photo opp by wearing pieces of cloth or surgical fabric over their noses and mouths? After DeSantis’ outburst, some of the students obliged and removed their masks with embarrassed smiles.
Others kept their masks on. After all, it’s their choice, right, governor? You did say “if you wanna wear it, fine” — even though your attitude said just the opposite, as you stood there in your official capacity as governor. And as you used those young people to advance your agenda.
The video, posted on social media, drew scathing comments, deservedly.
DeSantis’ attitude was classic Karen — the slang for self-centered, entitled white women who berate service workers and call 911 on Black people. During the pandemic, a new breed of Karens has emerged, the ones set off by other people wearing masks.
DeSantis likes to brag that Florida is “the freest state in the United States,” especially when it comes to personal choice on masks. Local governments and schools were banned from requiring them. But it appears that freedom doesn’t apply to those who, despite the CDC’s relaxed mask guidance, still are concerned about COVID.
Unlike anti-maskers, maskers don’t put other people’s health at risk. So let them be, governor. Save your anti-mask, anti-vaccine diatribes for FOX News. The only one looking ridiculous is you.
