Last week on the Show Your Work podcast, Duana and I talked about Cardi B and how she answered those who were dragging her for being named Billboard’s Woman of the Year. At one point during the show, we noted that just because we loved how Cardi clapped back and how she’s been doing the work, it doesn’t mean she won’t f-ck up. And over Thanksgiving weekend, she f-cked up on social media – where else do people f-ck up these days? Here’s what Cardi posted: 

 

As you can imagine, people immediately started chirping her in the mentions because all we’ve been hearing from health experts, not just in America, is that large gatherings are discouraged, that this is the year we may not be able to see those outside our own households to make sure to slow the surge of COVID-19. And she’s out here bragging on Twitter about her party. 

So then she apologised:

 

Which I guess takes care of the super-spreading… but it once again reminds us that this pandemic has exacerbated the inequality. Most people aren’t able to have all their family members tested. Testing has been a major issue in the United States – not enough tests have been completed and access has been confusing. So the fact that Cardi could get all those people tested, seemingly quite easily, means that those with money can have the ideal holiday and those who don’t have to suck it up. 

For Cardi, who has been sharing with her followers all kinds of information about the election and legislation that affects the most marginalised communities, this is a major disconnect. The initial tweet was irresponsible and the follow-up is insensitively shortsighted. She is smarter than this. And that’s the biggest disappointment. 
That said…

She’s also a celebrity. And all celebrities love attention. 

 

Which is why when I was writing about American Thanksgiving last week, I was wondering about how many celebrities would be able to put away their phones and not put themselves on blast. Because when celebrities are posting about their Thanksgiving feasts and whatever else it is that they want you see it, part if it, like everyone else, celebrity or civilian, on social media, is about showing off. Look at what I’m doing. Look at how much fun I’m having. Look at my double oven. 

And, like I said, non-famous people do this too. I’ve heard about minor dramas in the real world where people tell on themselves when they violate COVID protocols and get called out by their followers or, worse, get busted by their colleagues. My favourite mini-scandals to read about are when people snitch on others. I still crack up about the NBA snitch line and the season is now long over. Getting busted is also one of the reasons I can’t go see my parents anymore. Now that we’re in lockdown in Toronto, we’re not supposed to visit with people who aren’t in our own households and even though my parents are tested regularly because they’re in and out of the hospital, and I basically have been in lockdown for months even after reopening, since my parents live in a condo, there’s a door-person and cameras and even behind a mask, the door-person recognises me. 

Cardi B has the means to protect herself and her loved ones and she was able to spend time with them over the holidays. I don’t blame her for wanting to. But busting herself for it? Entirely avoidable.