Vanilla Ice was grilled on social media after the ’90s rapper was spotted amongst a group of performers at the Mar-a-Lago New Year’s Eve party on December 31. The “Ice Ice Baby” rapper, 53, performed his 1989 hit to a crowded, maskless room of attendees. Video from the event, which circulated across social media, captured the moment the rapper took to the stage to perform the song, as well as “Play That Funky Music” by Wild Cherry.
New Year’s Eve celebration at Mar-a-Lago during deadly pandemic pic.twitter.com/oICbuJzpH1
— Daniel Uhlfelder (@DWUhlfelderLaw) January 1, 2021
Among the party-goers were President Donald Trump‘s son, Donald Trump Jr., and Don Jr.’s girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle. Both Kimberly and Don Jr. previously tested positive for COVID-19. Kimberly contracted the virus in August 2020, while Don Jr. tested positive in November. President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were not did not attend the festivities. Many on social media were dismayed by what they saw, taking to Twitter to air their frustrations.
I just saw video of Kimberly Guilfoyle dancing to Vanilla Ice as she shouted the words ‘play that funky music white boy’ and I’m not sure I will make a full recovery.
— NoelCaslerComedy (@CaslerNoel) January 1, 2021
“New Year’s Eve celebration at Mar-a-Lago during deadly pandemic,” one person wrote, adding the footage from the event to their post. Other’s called out Vanilla Ice, specifically. “I just saw video of Kimberly Guilfoyle dancing to Vanilla Ice as she shouted the words ‘play that funky music white boy’ and I’m not sure I will make a full recovery,” one person wrote.
A live Vanilla Ice performance *and* a chance to catch a deadly disease? That’s win-win! https://t.co/YzMucJez5g
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) January 1, 2021
“When Vanilla Ice sings un-ironically ‘play that funky music till you die’ during a pandemic at Mar-A-Lago,” another wrote on Twitter, adding a gif beneath their message. “A live Vanilla Ice performance *and* a chance to catch a deadly disease? That’s win-win,” one person added on the social media platform. “And 2020 ends not with a bang, but with a super-spreading Vanilla Ice concert at Mar-a-Lago,” another person said.
This isn’t the first time that Vanilla Ice has faced backlash for performing for an audience during the pandemic. Back in July, he announced that he’d planned a concert to celebrate the July 4 holiday before bowing to pressure only to share that he would reschedule the event to a “better date.” As those at the Mar-a-Lago New Year’s Eve event partied the night away, the coronavirus continued to claim the lives of thousands of Americans. As of New Year’s Eve, more than 340,000 lives have been claimed by the coronavirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.