Celebrities Take on the #WearADamnMask Challenge as Coronavirus Cases Soar

Chelsey Sanchez
·8 min read
Photo credit: Instagram
Photo credit: Instagram

From Harper's BAZAAR

  • As the rate of confirmed coronavirus cases continues to surge amid state reopening phases, celebrities are trying to raise awareness on the importance of wearing face masks to stop the spread.

  • Celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Kerry Washington have taken on the #WearADamnMask challenge.

Roses are red, violets are blue, the pandemic is still raging, and celebrities wear masks too.

A new social media campaign, dubbed the #WearADamnMask challenge, is attempting to remind everyone about the importance of wearing a face mask while out in public in order to stop the spread of COVID-19 infections.

As states have pushed for reopenings amid the pandemic, the rate of confirmed coronavirus cases has soared. Now, at least 16 states have paused or rolled back on phases of reopening. Bars in Texas and California were ordered to close again, while beaches in Florida were also made off-limits to the public.

"I am sure you all are seeing what I am seeing: COVID 19 rates in the USA are rising at a truly scary rate," Tracee Ellis Ross wrote in her Instagram caption after accepting the face mask challenge. "One thing I know for sure is that there's a very easy way each of us can help, and that's to #WearaDamnMask whenever we are in public."

View this post on Instagram

Challenge happily accepted, @samiranasr! I am sure you all are seeing what I am seeing: COVID 19 rates in the USA are rising at a truly scary rate. One thing I know for sure is that there's a very easy way each of us can help, and that's to #WearaDamnMask whenever we are in public. I challenge @marisatomei, @oprah, @ronejae, @ava, @amandadecadenet, @jodiepatterson, @kerbito, @ijessewilliams, @usher, @lizzobeeating, @diddy, @matthewacherry, @kelvharrjr, @desusnice, @thekidmero, @prabalgurung, @issarae and @kellyrowland to join me in getting this message out by posting a masked selfie and tagging others to do the same. Also, still demanding #justiceforbreonnataylor

A post shared by Tracee Ellis Ross (@traceeellisross) on Jun 29, 2020 at 5:02pm PDT

Jennifer Aniston also joined in on the challenge, writing, "I really do believe in the basic goodness of people so I know we can all do this. BUT still, there are many people in our country refusing to take the necessary steps to flatten the curve, and keep each other safe. People seem worried about their 'rights being taken away' by being asked to wear a mask. This simple and effective recommendation is being politicized at the expense of peoples' lives. And it really shouldn't be a debate."

View this post on Instagram

I understand masks are inconvenient and uncomfortable. But don’t you feel that it’s worse that businesses are shutting down... jobs are being lost... health care workers are hitting absolute exhaustion. And so many lives have been taken by this virus because we aren’t doing enough. ⠀ ⠀ I really do believe in the basic goodness of people so I know we can all do this 🥰 BUT still, there are many people in our country refusing to take the necessary steps to flatten the curve, and keep each other safe. People seem worried about their “rights being taken away” by being asked to wear a mask. This simple and effective recommendation is being politicized at the expense of peoples’ lives. And it really shouldn’t be a debate 🙏🏼 ⠀ ⠀ If you care about human life, please... just #wearadamnmask 😷 and encourage those around you to do the same ❤️

A post shared by Jennifer Aniston (@jenniferaniston) on Jun 30, 2020 at 2:18pm PDT

Scroll down to see who else participated.

Kerry Washington

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Throwing (@fenty) shade if you’re not wearing a mask. #WearADamnMask ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ P.S. Happy #NationalSunglassDay 😎

A post shared by Kerry Washington (@kerrywashington) on Jun 27, 2020 at 3:49pm PDT

Samira Nasr

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Challenge accepted @torysport I am sure you all are seeing what I am seeing, COVID 19 rates in the USA are rising at a truly scary rate. One thing I know for sure is that there's a very easy way each of us can help, and that's to #WearaDamnMask whenever we are in public. #WearaDamnMask because we want to protect ourselves and, even more importantly, we want to protect others #WearaDamnMask because clearly, the doctors and data say we are not going to beat this pandemic unless we each do our part to get rid of it #WearaDamnMask because is it not a political issue, it is an issue of saving lives #WearaDamnMask because it is the only way to keep our most vulnerable safe and the only way to get our economy back on track I challenge @traceeellisross @rashidajones @lpeopleswagner @yashuasimmons @cassblackbird @radhikajones @romyglow @liyakebede @kristina_oneill @laurabrown99 to join me in getting this message out by posting a masked selfie and tagging others to do the same. And I invite every single one of you to help spread the word. Will you also post a masked selfie with #WearADamnMask and then tag as many people as you can? We are all in this together 🧡 @torysport @toryburch #letsgo

A post shared by samiranasr (@samiranasr) on Jun 29, 2020 at 12:19pm PDT

Tory Burch

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I am sure you all are seeing what I am seeing, COVID 19 rates in the USA are rising at a truly scary rate. One thing I know for sure is that there's a very easy way each of us can help, and that's to #WearaDamnMask whenever we are in public. #WearaDamnMask because we want to protect ourselves and, even more importantly, we want to protect others #WearaDamnMask because clearly, the doctors and data say we are not going to beat this pandemic unless we each do our part to get rid of it #WearaDamnMask because is it not a political issue, it is an issue of saving lives #WearaDamnMask because it is the only way to keep our most vulnerable safe and the only way to get our economy back on track I challenge @loganlaurice @mindykaling @kerrywashington @bradgoreski @ariannahuff @bagsnob @samiranasr @jasonbolden @gayleking @amygriffin @keeganmichaelkey @drsanjaygupta @perrip08 @jamietisch @marjoriegubelmann @jaredcohen81 to join me in getting this message out by posting a masked selfie and tagging others to do the same. And I invite every single one of you to help spread the word. Will you also post a masked selfie with #WearADamnMask and then tag as many people as you can? (Trust me, it takes a lot for me to post a selfie, this is urgent!) We are all in this together 🧡 Tory xx

A post shared by Tory Burch (@toryburch) on Jun 29, 2020 at 9:42am PDT

Marisa Tomei

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Challenge accepted @Traceeellisross! I am sure you all are seeing what I am seeing, COVID 19 rates in the USA are rising at a truly scary rate. One thing I know for sure is that there's a very easy way each of us can help, and that's to #WearaDamnMask whenever we are in public. I invite @zoeisabellakravitz, @jameskaliardos, @zendaya, @rosieperezbrooklyn, @toshireagon, @debimazar, @kimpaper, @ariannephillips, @goldilocksg @threeasfour, @bethannhardison and @rosie to the challenge.

A post shared by Marisa Tomei (@marisatomei) on Jun 30, 2020 at 10:17am PDT

Matthew A. Cherry

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Challenge accepted @traceeellisross ! I am sure you all are seeing what I am seeing: COVID 19 rates in the USA are rising at a truly scary rate. One thing I know for sure is that there's a very easy way each of us can help, and that's to #WearaDamnMask whenever we are in public. I challenge @candice.w.o @mikemossfuture @jeromecaldwell @hawk @spiceadams @thomasjonesrb @tikasumpter @joeyharrisinc @thekalenallen to join me in getting this message out by posting a masked selfie and tagging others to do the same. Also, still demanding #justiceforbreonnataylor

A post shared by matthewacherry (@matthewacherry) on Jun 30, 2020 at 7:19pm PDT

Prabal Gurung

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CHALLENGE ACCEPTED @traceeellisross ! COVID-19 rates are still on the rise all across the country, and there is one simple way we can keep each other safe…. #WearaDamnMask! I challenge @joansmalls @gigihadid @bellahadid @sarahjessicaparker @therealphilliplim @aurorajames @tokibunbun @ezrajwilliam @bagsnob @tinaleung @mindykaling @ashleygraham @elainewelteroth @geenarocero @noor @mjrodriguez7 @bingchen @bryanboycom to join me now in sharing this message by posting a masked selfie and tagging others to do the same.

A post shared by Prabal Gurung (@prabalgurung) on Jun 30, 2020 at 12:23pm PDT

Mindy Kaling

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My friend @toryburch said it best: #WearaDamnMask⁣ ⁣ So many things right now can feel scary at times and out of our control. One thing I can control is to #WearaDamnMask whenever we are in public.⁣ ⁣ Why do you #WearaDamnMask?⁣ ⁣ I challenge @maitreyiramakrishnan @jarenlewison @darrenbarnet @poornagraphy_ @richamoorjani @leerodriguezz @ramonabishyoung to join me in getting this message out by posting a masked selfie and tagging others to do the same.⁣ ⁣ And I invite every single one of you to help spread the word. Post a masked selfie with #WearADamnMask and then tag as many people as you can 💛

A post shared by Mindy Kaling (@mindykaling) on Jun 30, 2020 at 6:04pm PDT

Ezra William

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#DistanceYourselfFromHate is a movement 💙 Spread love, fight stigma, wear a mask @gmhc @jasonwu @harlemunitednyc @lanterncommunity

A post shared by EJW (@ezrajwilliam) on Jun 27, 2020 at 12:07pm PDT

Reese Witherspoon

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Hey Everybody! Wearing a mask is not a political statement. It means you care about other people’s health and safety. Be KIND, wear a mask! #wearadamnmask

A post shared by Reese Witherspoon (@reesewitherspoon) on Jun 26, 2020 at 9:14am PDT

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