Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Receives Backlash for Scolding Mask-Wearing Students

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is under fire after he was seen on video berating high school students for wearing masks amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wednesday morning at the University of South Florida, DeSantis appeared at a press conference to announce funding for cyber security education at the college when he scolded a group of students from Middleton High School in Tampa for wearing facial coverings.

“You do not have to wear those masks,” he said. “I mean, please take them off. Honestly, it’s not doing anything and we’ve gotta stop with this COVID theater. So if you want to wear it, fine, but this is ridiculous.”

While some of the students removed their masks, others kept them on.

In a statement to numerous outlets including People and 8 On Your Side, Hillsborough Schools Superintendent Addison Davis — who said that the seven high school students at the conference were highlighted due to the statewide focus around cyber security education — said the district is “proud of the manner in which our students represented themselves and our school district.”

“As always, our students should be valued and celebrated. It is a student and parents’ choice to protect their health in a way they feel most appropriate. We are proud of the manner in which our students represented themselves and our school district,” the statement said.

In response to the controversy, however, DeSantis’ office defended the governor’s actions.

“As the governor said, ‘You can wear them if you want’ but there’s ‘no evidence’ masks make any difference,” alleges press secretary Christina Pushaw. “That has been clear for a long time, and the data informed our state’s official guidance. Following Florida, the CDC has even stopped recommending mask wearing for most Americans. After two years of mixed messages from health authorities and the media, the governor wants to make sure everyone is aware of the facts and data now, so they can feel free and comfortable without a mask.”

Though he ordered a statewide lockdown in April 2020, DeSantis has been criticized about his handling of the virus, which include opposing mandated public health measures in Florida as well as his attempt to block local leaders' authority to issue mask mandates in municipalities throughout the state.

In July of last year, DeSantis issued an order disallowing local school districts from requiring students to wear masks despite federal recommendations.