Jennifer Aniston took to social media this week to encourage fans to wear a mask to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
“I understand masks are inconvenient and uncomfortable,” the former “Friends” star posted on Instagram alongside of a photo of herself in a black mask. “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.”
Aniston specifically called out “many people in our country refusing to take the necessary steps to flatten the curve, and keep each other safe,” accusing some of worrying “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,” Aniston wrote.
“If you care about human life, please… just #wearadamnmask and encourage those around you to do the same,” she continued.
A slate of fellow celebrities lauded Aniston in the comments of her post, including Reese Witherspoon, Julia Roberts, Drew Barrymore, Justin Theroux, Rita Wilson and Kevin Bacon, among others.
Aniston’s message comes as California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Wednesday imposed a new round of restrictions to combat a surge of coronavirus cases in the state. Newsom ordered all indoor non-essential businesses to close in 19 counties.
Witherspoon, Tracee Ellis Ross and other celebrities have also shared photos of themselves in face masks using the hashtag “WearaDamnMask’ during the pandemic.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) told reporters last week following a GOP lunch with Vice President Pence that “everyone should just wear a damn mask, like you guys are, like I am right now.”
