Former child star Ricky Schroder had a conniption fit after a Costco employee denied him entry into the store for not wearing a mask.
The 51-year-old who starred in shows like Silver Spoons and NYPD Blue filmed his interaction with the employee – whose name is Jason – and asked why he wasn't allowed into the store.
The employee told him:
"Because in the state of California and the county of Los Angeles, and Costco, there has been no change to our mask policy."
The video which the actor posted on Facebook came days after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that people who are fully vaccinated are no longer obligated to wear masks in most public indoor or outdoor areas.
You can see the video that was shared on Twitter, here.
Former child star Rick Schroder harasses a Costco employee over face masks https://t.co/HRlWeJJlt1— Fifty Shades of Whey (@Fifty Shades of Whey) 1621174390.0
In response to Thursday's CDC announcement, Costco – which was one of the first retailers to implement the mask-wearing policy – dropped the requirement for fully vaccinated club members.
However, CEO Craig Jelinek, did say the updated policy only applied to store locations where the state or local jurisdiction does not have a mask mandate – unlike the state of California and the county of Los Angeles where Schroder resides.
While it appears unclear whether or not Schroder was cognizant of the unchanged policy in the state, Schroder argued:
"You didn't see the news? Nationwide Costco has said you don't need to wear masks."
But Jason held firm in his position on behalf of the club and replied while maintaining decorum:
"Actually, that's not accurate. What is accurate is that Costco always goes above and beyond when following the law and the mandate in California has not changed."
@davenewworld_2 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👍🏽Well done Jason. You not only uphold your duty as a manager at Costco but you've also prote… https://t.co/0dxETEDNWg— TLDarby 🍁🌿🍎💉😷 Proudly Anti-Fascist (@TLDarby 🍁🌿🍎💉😷 Proudly Anti-Fascist) 1621180294.0
The discussion could have ended there. But Schroder went off on a political rant.
"Oh if they grant us that, our kings? The people in power? You're going to listen to these people?" he mocked.
"They've destroyed our economy. They're destroying our culture. They're destroying our state. And you're just going to listen to their rules?"
@davenewworld_2 So, another wealthy, old white man is harassing employees for wearing the weight of a paper mask fo… https://t.co/WIJoFjnObw— Idealist_me (@Idealist_me) 1621174827.0
@davenewworld_2 I will never understand why people like Ricky believe harassing a company's employee is the best wa… https://t.co/GHUaCjdcdA— Mel ... Just Mel (@Mel ... Just Mel) 1621174768.0
@davenewworld_2 Hate this bullying of service staff. If these anti-maskers are so tough, they should take it up w… https://t.co/zsd4qoc6aW— capellarec (@capellarec) 1621174705.0
@davenewworld_2 Good grief Ricky Schroder is a big bully. What is wrong with him or anyone bullying an essential wo… https://t.co/VVYoohS28x— GeeGee (@GeeGee) 1621180293.0
@davenewworld_2 Apparently, Mr. T needs to have another talk with him about bullying. https://t.co/dh9qeRev7y— Greg Jaffe (@Greg Jaffe) 1621198117.0
@davenewworld_2 He’s no longer a star, but he still acts like a child.— KD 📚🌎🉑🌊🇺🇸 (@KD 📚🌎🉑🌊🇺🇸) 1621175565.0
Jason replied:
"What we are going to do is simply follow the guidelines."
This prompted Schroder to turn the camera on himself and demand people boycott Costco.
"I'm getting a refund from Costco. I suggest everybody get their refund from Costco. Give up your membership to Costco until they remove this [mask mandate]."
Schroder's self-filmed tantrum only incentivized people to shop more at Costco or become new members.
@davenewworld_2 Good, I don't have to worry about running into Ricky Schroeder at Costco. Thank you, Costco.— Jules Decker 🎭 End White Supremacy (@Jules Decker 🎭 End White Supremacy) 1621190513.0
@davenewworld_2 For the billionth time, private companies like Costco can make up whatever rules they want (barring… https://t.co/eiq4WBGPvl— Brother Pietro (@Brother Pietro) 1621175092.0
@davenewworld_2 Wait?! No more Ricky Schroeder in @Costco ?! Ahhh , shopping at Costco just got better. Thank You… https://t.co/93bKhU9WBc— Troy Chandler (@Troy Chandler) 1621182110.0
@davenewworld_2 I just showed my husband this video & his first words to me at the end were: “I’m gonna renew my me… https://t.co/c4iBM6sLR3— ZoëbethC-MeidasMighty👑 (@ZoëbethC-MeidasMighty👑) 1621188497.0
@RexChapman @davenewworld_2 I wanna buy a Costco membership even MORE now 🤷🏼♀️— ꧁ 𝓒𝓱𝓻𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓪 ꧂ (@꧁ 𝓒𝓱𝓻𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓪 ꧂) 1621180481.0
Towards the end of the video Jason told Schroder, "The point is Costco is simply abiding by the law, and that's the law."
The manager then appeared in the video handing Schroder a form indicating a refund.
The actor told the manager, "I'm suggesting everyone in California get a refund from Costco until this rule is lifted."
Twitter saw advantages if people actually listened to him.
@davenewworld_2 OMG- if the Trumpers all give up their Costco memberships, I will shop exclusively at Costco for th… https://t.co/RWg8z7fiX2— orgfarmer (@orgfarmer) 1621176491.0
@davenewworld_2 Anyone listening to some child actor from the 80’s telling people to get a refund of their Costco m… https://t.co/D2EpVAlQzM— Fozzie 🐼 🧸 🐨 🐻 (@Fozzie 🐼 🧸 🐨 🐻) 1621180459.0
Schroder later "apologized" to the Costco employee if he made him feel uncomfortable but then added his personal cause was more important than "hurting people's feelings."
He said in the video:
"Jason, it's nothing personal. I'm not upset with you or anybody in a position like you have that works for a living. I understand you were following their laws and rules."
"I was trying to make a point with the corporate overlords and I'm sorry that I had to use you to do it."
"If I hurt your feelings, I apologize, but I do think that independence from medical tyranny is more important than hurting people's feelings."
Ricky Schroder addressed the viral Costco video, offered an apology for using Costco employee Jason to “make a poin… https://t.co/lJT94C5aOQ— Resist Programming 🛰 (@Resist Programming 🛰) 1621213074.0
The actor formerly faced backlash in 2020 after he posed for a picture with Kyle Rittenhouse, the Illinois teenager who was arrested after traveling to Kenosha, Wisconsin, and fatally shooting Anthony Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum, and seriously injuring Gaige Grosskreutz with his AR-15 at a demonstration over the police shooting of Jacob Blake.
The photo with the teen was taken after Schroder donated $150,000 towards his bail.
@davenewworld_2 I think you mean, ‘Ricky Schroeder, the guy who pays bail money for murderous white supremacists in… https://t.co/DhImodgzlT— ZukiRex^2 (@ZukiRex^2) 1621175156.0
@davenewworld_2 Rick Schroder: —Twice arrested for domestic violence —Largest contributor to murderer Kyle Rittenho… https://t.co/QemoEoM0nH— Trinity (@Trinity) 1621207136.0
In a letter sent to Costco members Friday, Jelinek said the clubs that still have mandates "will follow the state or local regulations and continue to require members and guests to wear a face mask or face shield."
"As before, our goal is to continue to provide a safe shopping environment for our members and guests and to provide a safe work environment for our employees, while following public health advice and applicable laws."
California Governor Gavin Newsom said before the announcement of the CDC's guidance the state may lift its mask mandate on June 15 when the state plans to reopen.