Over the weekend, Bow Wow found himself the target of yet another online dragging when social media users slammed the rapper after he received an online warning from Houston, Texas, Mayor Sylvester Turner for performing at a packed nightclub.
Turner reprimanded the “Growing Up Hip Hop: Atlanta” star and his promotional team on Sunday. Jan. 17, in a tweet after the star was scheduled to perform for a crowd at Clé Houston, a local nightclub in the Houston area. The Southern state had recently suffered a surge in COVID-19 infections.
“These events that are scheduled with @BowWowPromoTeam today in Houston are on our radar,” Turner tweeted Sunday afternoon on Jan. 17. “Others bars/clubs that are operating as restaurants, beyond capacity and social distancing requirements, please expect visits. Today we report 1964 new cases and 17 more deaths. st.”
In a now-deleted tweet captured by blog site The ShadeRoom, Bow Wow responded to the politician, questioning why he was the only artist being called out. “Mr. mayor … why you blaming me though?” Bow Wow questioned. “Like this is crazy. You acting like this was a bow wow weekend. Why you singling me out? Im asking respectfully. Im just the easy target? Im the celeb that gets the most attn so its easy to just put it on me?”
A Twitter user responded to the “Let Me Hold You” rapper, saying, “Because you went vial for being there & the videos are everywhere. You can’t be this slow sir.”
Shortly after, Bow Wow shared a screenshot of the mayor’s tweet and posted it to his Instagram Story alongside the caption, “SOMEONE TELL THE MAYOR OF HOUSTON TX IM LEAVING RIGHT NOW. GEEEEEZ.” He added, “HE SINGLING ME OUT AS IF I WAS THE ONLY CELEB HERE THIS WEEKEND THIS IS RIDICULOUS.”
ABC 13 reported that Trey Songz and Fabolous’ performance at Club Spire, titled “The Black Affair,” was shut down as well, after the venue disregarded COVID-19 restrictions and was reportedly filled with more people than capacity allows.
In another tweet, Bow Wow further expressed his grievances with being the only star called out, saying, “Safe to say the mayor of houston hates my guts. I cant believe i get the blame for a whole weekend. This is ridiculous.”
Bow Wow started trending online after footage of him onstage at a nightclub went viral. There were very few people wearing masks, including Bow Wow, although masks were a requirement, according to the Instagram page for the club, where social distancing seemed nearly impossible. The backlash from critics regarding the event ensued almost immediately, including with actor Zach Braff tweeting, “I thought about it and have decided I’m not willing to die for Bow Wow.”
“Insecure” star Natasha Rothwell reposted a clip from Bow Wow’s performance, saying, “For… Bow Wow…?”
