Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

A Bar in Washington State Held a 'Catch the Virus' Promotion—and It Backfired Immediately

A Bar in Washington State Held a 'Catch the Virus' Promotion—and It Backfired Immediately
The Good Brigade/Getty Images

Since the start of the pandemic that's killed more than 850 thousand Americans, the Republican party has repeatedly downplayed the severity of COVID-19, painting public safety guidelines as tyrannical and characterizing lifesaving vaccines as dangerous mechanisms of federal control.

The consequences have been deadly. Trump, who led the party in dismissing the threat posed by the pandemic, continued holding packed rallies, most of which were maskless, thanks to his early disavowal of mask-wearing. One Stanford study found these rallies led to at least 30 thousand COVID cases. He also pushed bogus treatments like hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin, despite no proven efficacy in preventing or treating COVID-19.


This dismissal of public safety efforts trickled down from the Oval Office to Trump's supporters in Congress and state legislatures, and—eventually—down to private citizens. Viral videos of right-wingers burning masks, destroying mask displays, and demanding to be served despite no proof of vaccination have become ubiquitous in the pandemic's nearly three years.

Some businesses have even made it a brand. A gym in Bellmawr, New Jersey went viral in the MAGA-verse for refusing to close during the lockdowns, and for offering free memberships to those who don't get vaccinated. The gym's owner is now running for Congress. A bar in D.C. that's openly refused to enforce the District's vaccine mandates for patrons was flooded with support from Republican representatives after the Health Department moved to shut it down.

But Vessel Taphouse, a pirate-themed bar and live music venue in Washington state, took these stances to an even more deranged level with a recent promotion encouraging customers to bring a positive COVID-19 test for discounted tickets.

The bar wrote in a since-deleted Facebook post:

"Come see the show, maybe catch the virus, or just stay home and whine ... Tickets 10 bucks or 6 with proof of omicron positive test. Have you had enough???"

But it was Taphouse's staff and bands who had enough, and owner Steve Hartley, who said the post was an “an ill-advised attempt at humor," confirmed to the Daily Herald that four staff members quit and three bands canceled their engagements. The staff member who made the Facebook post has also been fired.

Seattle-based Atrocity Girl was one of the headliners to pull out, elaborating on the decision in a Facebook post emphasizing they "do not think COVID is a joke."

Social media users were enraged at the bar's promotion.






Locals vowed never to patronize the bar.



There's a chance this pirate bar may get back in the public's good graces, but the process is sure to be arrrrrrduous.

More from News

Screenshots of Will Thilly breakdancing
New York Post/YouTube

Guy Breakdances His Way Into Town Hall Meeting To Ask Why Taxes Went Up—And Becomes An Instant Legend

Cranford, New Jersey town council candidate Will Thilly went viral after dancing his way up to the podium at a recent town hall meeting to ask why property taxes in Cranford have gone "up so much."

Thilly's unique tax protest began when he danced his way up to the podium and continued to dance even after a Cranford Township official said, "Mr. Thilly, I started your time." People laughed when Thilly held up a finger to stop the official and continued to dance anyway.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Brian Kilmeade
Fox News

Fox News Host Apologizes After His Suggestion That Homeless People Be Euthanized Sparks Outrage

Fox and Friends host Brian Kilmeade was criticized for suggesting that homeless people with mental health issues get "involuntary lethal injection" after the murder of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a train in North Carolina—and was swiftly condemned for an insincere apology several days after the fact as many are calling for Fox News to terminate his contract.

Zarutska was stabbed to death at the East/West Boulevard station on the Lynx Blue Line in Charlotte last month; her killer, a homeless man with a history of mental health issues, has since been charged with first-degree murder.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sofía Vergara
Bryan Steffy/Getty Images

Sofía Vergara Reveals She Missed Presenting At The Emmys Due To 'Craziest' Medical Emergency

Almost everyone has a favorite television show they like to turn on at the end of a rough day or binge-watch for a bit of nostalgia, and most of us pretty frequently check out new shows to see if we can spot a favorite.

Needless to say, the Emmys award show is a huge deal every year, honoring all of the people involved in the projects that are currently gracing the small screen, and basically anyone who's anyone will attend.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rep. Nancy Mace
CNN

Nancy Mace Just Tried To Claim She's Never 'Dehumanized' Her Colleagues—And The Internet Brought The Receipts

South Carolina Republican Representative Nancy Mace was called out for hypocrisy after she claimed on CNN that Democrats in Congress have been "dehumanizing" Republicans, a move she would "never" do—despite her record of doing just that.

Speaking to anchor Katie Bolduan while the search for the suspect who killed far-right activist Charlie Kirk was ongoing, Mace objected to Bolduan's observation that she was using "us v. them" language, only saying that things are "very one-sided right now." She also suggested that the situation is so bad for her that she's actually afraid of "just walking out in public."

Keep ReadingShow less
A younger man stand on top of a mountain with his arms outreached and his face looking to the sky. It's a beautiful day and lakes and mountains are the backdrop.
Photo by Kyle Loftus on Unsplash

People Who Quit Their High-Paying Jobs For Happiness Explain How It Turned Out

Sometimes money isn't the goal.

It is a BIG goal for many.

Keep ReadingShow less