
After urging people to stay home, wear a mask, keep a safe distance from others and avoid going on vacation, Mexico’s coronavirus czar, Hugo López-Gatell, decided to take a maskless beach vacation in Oaxaca, prompting a wave of criticisms among Mexicans and later becoming the nation’s butt of the joke.
A series of photos published this weekend show Dr. López-Gatell seated at an outdoor bar with a female companion in the tourist-friendly beach of Zipolite, Oaxaca. Neither is wearing a mask. Another photo, taken a few days earlier on a crowded flight from Mexico City to the beach resort, López-Gatell is seen talking on a cellphone — again not wearing a mask. The photos quickly went viral on social media.
While the politician’s beach escapade sparked anger, naturally, it also gave rise to some hilarious memes and images that continued to light the Internet well into the new year, because when it comes to quick, witty Internet humor, Mexico sigue siendo el rey.
Here are some of my favorite reactions to López-Gatell’s beach escapade.
AMLO got a Special T-shirt
— Museo Mexicano de Internet (@MuseoMexicano) January 5, 2021
Back from Zipolite
Hoy, en la conferencia de Gatell: pic.twitter.com/VCLkO8khti
— LuisValLe® Tu desconocido favorito. (@LuisValLeAnaya) January 4, 2021
Coronavirus Ready to Pounce
-¡Ya te vi HDLV! pic.twitter.com/8wdoINsClu
— LuisValLe® Tu desconocido favorito. (@LuisValLeAnaya) January 4, 2021