The mayor of Illinois' third largest city is facing fierce backlash for flying to Florida to attend his daughter's wedding with more than 50 guests - some who allegedly weren't wearing masks - just days after he warned constituents that he may impose a mask mandate.
Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico's ill-advised trip was revealed on Twitter by his niece Kristin Chirico, a former Buzzfeed personality, over the weekend.
'I can't believe I have to say this but if you are HAVING A WEDDING THIS WEEKEND WITH UNMASKED PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE something is wrong with you!!!!' Kristin wrote.
At first Kristin said she would not disclose who the tweet was aimed at, but five hours later she changed her mind and revealed that her mayor uncle, his wife and their kids were at a wedding with at least 50 guests.
The next day a Twitter user posted a photo of Mayor Chirico posing next to nine other people - none of them wearing masks - in Naples, Florida. Kristin replied to the photo, indicating that it was taken at the wedding.
Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico is facing fierce backlash for flying to Florida to attend his daughter's wedding with more than 50 guests - some who allegedly weren't wearing masks - just days after he warned constituents that he may impose a mask mandate
Steve Chirico's ill-advised trip was revealed on Twitter by his niece Kristin Chirico, a former Buzzfeed personality, over the weekend
A Twitter user posted a photo of Mayor Chirico posing next to nine other people - none of them wearing masks - in Naples, Florida. While the photo has not been officially verified, Kristin indicated that it was taken at the wedding
Kristin's tweets quickly went viral, prompting the mayor to fess up in a statement on Sunday.
'My family and I all took COVID tests and tested negative prior to traveling to Florida this weekend for my daughter Jenna's wedding,' Mayor Chirico said.
'It was an outdoor wedding and reception with a total of 53 guests. Upon my return to Naperville, I will be quarantining and testing again.'
The mayor's admission did little to quell criticism - including from Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker.
Pritzker referenced the controversy, without naming Mayor Chirico directly, at a press briefing on Monday while expressing concern that Illinois residents aren't taking coronavirus-related safety recommendations seriously enough.
'I even saw a story about a mayor here in Illinois who flew to Florida for a wedding, didn't wear a mask, and the wedding had more than 50 people,' the governor said.
'That's precisely what we ask people not to do.'
Mayor Chirico, a Republican who was elected in 2015, has been outspoken about safety measures in recent months, frequently posting about the importance of masks and social distancing on his Facebook page.
His niece shared one of the posts on Twitter during her weekend rant to call out his apparent hypocrisy.
'We can't have it both ways; freedom from masks and freedom from shutdowns,' the mayor's post read. 'I choose to wear a mask.'
Just last week Mayor Chirico announced that he is considering a city mask mandate during a virtual town hall. Illinois already has statewide mask mandate while Florida, where the wedding was held, does not.
Mayor Chirico has been outspoken about safety measures in recent months, frequently posting about the importance of masks and social distancing on his Facebook page. His profile picture (above) says: 'Safer at home #ASaferNaperville'
Kristin shared one of her uncle's Facebook posts (above) during her Twitter rant to call out his apparent hypocrisy
Kristin (pictured) told the Chicago Tribune: 'This story isn't really about me — I just know I have a responsibility to fight for people with less power than I'
Kristin also received some criticism for airing her family's dirty laundry in front of her more than 93,000 Twitter followers.
'I suppose you need a life,' one person tweeted at her. 'Say goodbye to your family. You just lost them. Got your 15 minutes. Hope your [sic] happy. Little snot.'
'I don't understand what your goal was besides bash your family? Salty much because you didn't get the invite?' another wrote.
But most of the people replying praised Kristin for calling the mayor out and drawing attention to the bigger issue of weddings taking place during the pandemic.
Kristin explained her decision to post about the wedding, writing: 'I actually don't need to protect these people, because they don't think they've done anything wrong.
'And maybe they'll be mad but also maybe we might save some lives so I'm willing to roll the dice on this.'
In a brief comment to the Chicago Tribune she added: 'This story isn't really about me — I just know I have a responsibility to fight for people with less power than I.'
Like many states, Illinois is currently in the throes of an alarming surge in coronavirus cases, with more than 674,000 recorded as of Tuesday.
Pritzker and the state's top health official, Dr Ngozi Ezike, have amplified warnings against large gatherings ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.
Dozens of Twitter users praised Kristin for calling her uncle out
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