Former President Barack Obama announced on Wednesday that he will cancel his long-awaited party for his 60th birthday, in which he expected hundreds of guests this Saturday.
"Due to the new spread of the delta variant during the past week, the president and Mrs. Obama
have decided to significantly reduce the event
to include only family and close friends," said Hannah Hankins, spokeswoman for the former president, on Wednesday morning. as confirmed by our sister network NBC News, and as first reported by The New York Times.
"He is grateful that others send their birthday wishes from afar and hopes to see people soon," she added.
[Obama announces the passing of his dog Bo, "a true friend and faithful companion"]
Obama turns 60 this Wednesday
, a milestone he planned to celebrate this weekend with a party full of celebrities, as he finalizes the publication of a book about his podcast with singer Bruce Springsteen.
Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House in Washington DC on August 6, 2016, head to Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.
REUTERS / Yuri Gripas
Obama's plans to celebrate the beginning of his sixth decade generated controversy because the party he was preparing in the gardens of his mansion on the exclusive island of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, coincides with the increase in COVID-19 cases in the country.
Actor George Clooney, director Steven Spielberg and host Oprah Winfrey were among the 475 invited to the lavish celebration, which featured rock band Pearl Jam, The New York Post reported.
Hospitalized COVID-19 patients continue to regret not being vaccinated on time
Aug. 3, 202101: 56
The party was planned to be outdoors, and guests had to undergo a test before attending, according to sources close to the former president.
The county where
Martha's Vineyard
is located
is not among those experiencing a major delta spread,
and vaccinated people do not necessarily have to wear the mask indoors there, according to guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. diseases (CDC).
After treating several pregnant women with COVID-19, this doctor recommends that pregnant women get vaccinated now
Aug. 3, 202101: 39
Despite this, some conservative commentators accused Obama of being hypocritical for planning that celebration after months of asking citizens to be vaccinated and be careful during the pandemic.
The former president did not want his guests to give him gifts: instead, he asked them to make donations to projects such as those promoted by his foundation and other related organizations, which seek to support black children and youth in the United States, as well as to adolescent girls around the world, so that they have better opportunities.
With information from Efe.
