Christie Brinkley's daughter Sailor Brinkley is defending herself against widespread criticism for wearing an N-95 face mask while out in public as medical personnel fighting the new coronavirus have been forced to go without the coveted piece of personal protective equipment.
The 21-year-old model was slammed after she was spotted on a grocery run with her boyfriend on Wednesday in Brooklyn, according to People. They both wore the close-fitting face masks, which are crucial for healthcare workers on the front lines of fighting the pandemic.
As backlash ensued, Brinkley took to Instagram stories to try to explain the situation, but her explanation rang hollow.
"To everyone reaching out (very angrily) about me having a mask…My mom is an artist and does projects that require her to wear a mask," she said according to People. "We didn't buy them upon hearing about the spread of COVID-19. She kept one mask for each one of our family members and then donated the rest to local hospitals."
Brinkley did not, however, explain why she didn't just simply donate the masks the family had to local hospitals, which desperately need them.
Brinkley further stated that her mother has been seeking out supplies for hospitals while also donating 30% of proceeds from her personal brand to Direct Relief, a foundation that supplies protective gear and resources to health workers.
Furthermore, Brinkley said she and her boyfriend each had one mask and they were donating daily to organizations that helped to create masks.
"When we go to the grocery store or out on a walk we wear them so that god forbid if we might have [COVID-19] and don't know we don't spread it to someone less able to fight it off," she added. "Please stop sending me hateful messages, and stay safe."
The world is experiencing a shortage of masks for medical personnel. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to encourage Americans to wear cloth face coverings when they're out in public to help stop the virus' spread.
Zoe Papadakis ✉
Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment. She has been in the news industry as a reporter, writer and editor for newspapers, magazine and websites.
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