LA Mayor Garcetti says he was ‘holding his breath’ when photographed maskless at football game

The mayor of Los Angeles Eric Garcetti said on Tuesday that he held his breath while going maskless at a football game this past weekend, which drew widespread criticism as well as mockery.

Garcetti was one of the politicians and celebrities who attended Sunday’s San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams playoff game at the SoFi stadium in Los Angeles. Garcetti was captured hanging out with basketball star Magic Johnson, who posted images of himself with his high-profile friends on Instagram.

Garcetti, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, actor Rob Lowe, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and other VIPs from the Golden State were not wearing their masks when they had their photos taken, as shown on Johnson’s Instagram. 

Under mandates in Los Angeles County as well as SoFi Stadium rules, fans attending mass outdoor gatherings must wear masks unless they are in the process of eating. The Los Angeles mayor said that he was following those rules on that day and only took his mask off when pictures were being taken.

“I wore my mask the entire game and when people ask for a photograph, I hold my breath,” he said to reporters on Tuesday. “There’s a zero-percent chance of infection from that.” 

Garcetti’s explanation provided easy fodder for his critics. “I won’t ‘hold my breath’ and wait for Garcetti to admit the real reason why he defied Democrats’ own indoor mask mandate,” wrote U.S. Rep Vicky Hartzler on Twitter.

Her central Missouri district office is just a five-hour drive from the Rams’ former home in St. Louis. “Rules for thee, but not for me,” she continued in the tweet.

“Gavin was judicious. Garcetti held his breath,” said Assemblyman James Gallagher on Twitter Wednesday. “C’mon man. Stop. They don’t really believe masking is necessary. Nor did any one else around them or anyone in that stadium for that matter. End of story.”