Teyana Taylor became arguably the first artist to hold a major listening session during the pandemic — and social media has some feelings about it.
Taylor celebrated her forthcoming third studio effort The Album on Wednesday night (June 17) at a house in Beverly Hills, ahead of the project’s official release on Friday (June 19). Per the invite previewed on TMZ, both masks and hazmat suits were provided to guests – which included the likes of Cardi B with Offset and Kulture, Takeoff, Trey Songz, Karrueche Tran, Odell Beckham, Kyle Kuzma, Lena Waithe, Terrence J and more.
? @TEYANATAYLOR @iamcardib pic.twitter.com/n0Nz5sQmj7
— Shirley Ju (@shirju) June 18, 2020
HQ: Kulture and Cardi B @iamcardib attend the Teyana Taylor "The Album" Listening Party on June 17, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California. pic.twitter.com/KfuKQv8YyV
— CardiBArchive (@CardiBArchive) June 18, 2020
Despite the precautions, photos from the event showed most attendees with their masks partially off or not on at all. In addition, most guests were crowded around Taylor and her famous friends in a small area with significantly less than six feet of distance from one another.
As states ease up on Stay-At-Home restrictions, significant COVID-19 spikes have been reported around the country – serving as a stark reminder the virus is far from over. And with the event happening just days after Taylor and husband Iman Shumpert announced they’re expecting their second child, fans were even more concerned.
“Did they test everyone for covid at the door?” podcast host King Crissle wrote on Twitter. “Cuz… imma just pray teyana stays healthy.”
Did they test everyone for covid at the door? Cuz… imma just pray teyana stays healthy. https://t.co/TdYiFQ9Ctf
— king crissle (@crissles) June 18, 2020
“No masks…No social distancing…A pregnant Teyana Taylor…Kids…A pandemic…What could go wrong?” another wrote.
No masks…
No social distancing…
A pregnant Teyana Taylor…
Kids…
A pandemic…What could go wrong?pic.twitter.com/13GOKsOt4R
— Mary Wilson (@TheeMaryWilson) June 18, 2020
Taylor has yet to respond to the criticisms. Check out more reactions to The Album listening party below.
Cardi B is dumb. She took her daughter to a listening party. No one is social distancing or wearing masks. Teyana Taylor is a dumbass too for setting up that environment. ?
— genie (@genielovespink) June 18, 2020
Teyana Taylor is pregnant, in LA that’s still on a lockdown… and just threw a packed listening party. ??♀️
Y’ALL corona is not over.
— alexis robinson (@_alexismarie24) June 18, 2020
Teyana Taylor really had a listening party while pregnant. With ALL THOSE PEOPLE CLOSE TOGETHER. During a PANDEMIC. Y’all jut don’t care huh?
— صفية Safiya (@Saaafxo) June 18, 2020
I'm not sure what made Teyana Taylor think that having a listening party with that many in close proximity to each other was a smart idea. I swear these people are idiots.
— Sorry to this man (@flowerrebelrose) June 18, 2020
I don't like how Teyana had that album listening party and hardly anyone had on mask and she's pregnant
— Mercedez (@MercedezUAZ2) June 18, 2020
Teyana Taylor having a listening party during a pandemic while pregnant pic.twitter.com/TOXmPAc0Wm
— Kristi Yamahoochie (@PettyPesci) June 18, 2020
So NO ONE wore masks at Teyana Taylor's listening party? ?
— dramaticaaa. ??♀️ (@a__bugg) June 18, 2020