How about them 2020 weddings, huh? Thanks to the Virus That Must Not Be Named, celebrations of all kinds look different this year. With state regulations and new reports coming out each day about hotspots and sick celebs, it’s clear COVID is not only here to stay, but it’s here to f*ck with your big day for a long time as well. Because for couples getting married during a global pandemic, pre-wedding stress is at an all-time high.
Not only do engaged folks have to budget for things like gloves, makes, and hand sanitizer, but chances are they’ve had to postpone their events (multiple times, in some cases) and the end results don’t look anything like the celebration we all dreamed off since watching Bride Wars when we were in middle school. There are a lot of aspects that majorly suck, but one of the biggest is the fact that some of your closest friends or family might not get to be there on the big day.
Whether they’re high risk, morally opposed to big gatherings during a pandemic, or can’t risk catching anything due to work or their general love of being alive and not ill, odds are there will be a few VIPs who have to change their RSVPs from “hell yessss” to “uh, actually. No.” As someone who’s recently faced a lot of “you’re the worst” backlash after RSVPing “no” to every wedding in 2020 (with plenty advance notice, mind you—I’m not going texting the bride the day before saying I can’t make it), here’s how to deal when your guests decide that your big day just isn’t worth it rn.
Remember: There’s A Literal Pandemic Happening
Not to state to obvious here, but like, the whole coronavirus thing is still a big deal. As bars, restaurants, and sex clubs open back up, you have to remember: It’s not because we’re any safer. It’s because places need to make money. Your friends who are diligent about avoiding crowds, keeping their distance, and staying home when possible aren’t being dramatic. They just like, you know, want to stay alive and want to keep their friends and family alive and healthy. While it might seem like a personal affront for them not to risk their safety to watch you marry some guy you drunkenly met at a college bar, it’s not. It’s a literal matter of not wanting to catch or spread a potentially deadly disease. Keep that in mind before giving them the cold shoulder after they give you the news.
Keep Your Cool
Yes, your guests choosing not to go to your wedding is upsetting. But the thing is, they’re not wrong here. Having an event—any event of any size—is a risk right now. Your guests wanting to stay home aren’t in the wrong here. While people always have the option to RSVP “no” to weddings, the whole virus excuse is a really good one—and the fact that they’re courteous enough to (hopefully) politely tell you they can’t attend without lecturing you about safety practices is a win. Remember: They could send you pages of data about why having a wedding rn is risky, so consider yourself spared.
So, instead of bitching out your friends who don’t feel comfortable attending, trying to remain calm. Tell them you’re bummed but understand (assuming you understand, of course) and take some time to mourn. It’s a really hard time to be getting married, but creating strife in your relationships won’t make things any easier. Be kind and compassionate and chances are they’ll still send you a gift.
Offer Virtual Options
I know Zoom weddings seem sooooooo summer 2020, but not only are they still a thing, but they’re a great option for guests who don’t feel comfortable celebrating in person. Make sure to set up virtual links so anyone who doesn’t feel great about being in crowds can still be a part of the big day. No, it’s not ideal, but as someone whose maid of honor couldn’t be at her wedding pre-COVID due to pregnancy complications, the event can still be just as special. Make cardboard cutouts of your non-attending VIPs. Set up multiple Skype stations that guests can access so they can see different parts of the party. FaceTime any besties who can’t make it as you’re getting ready. This way you can still feel the love, and your guests can feel included from home.
Keep Your Priorities Straight
I know I’ve said this before, but if you’ve scrolled through Instagram, chances are you’ve seen people living their lives like a virus isn’t still running rampant through America. Yes, weddings are about dresses and flowers and attention, but mostly they’re supposed to be about marrying the person you love. Well, that and getting a KitchenAid mixer, of course. The point is, it sucks that this once-in-a-lifetime event is happening during a pandemic, but you still get to get married (something generations of people in interracial or same-sex relationships didn’t have the option of doing), you still have friends (unless you’re a total monster to everyone who says they can’t attend), and you’ll still get to rock that overpriced diamond band. If you can make it out of this with your relationships intact and your romantic bond strong, you’ll be able to get through anything.
Plan An Event Post-COVID
It won’t be the same as having the giant wedding you originally planned, but let’s be real: The world is going to look different after this. No one is used to going into an office anymore and we haven’t worn real pants in forever so like, yeah. That ship has sailed. With so many couples having to downsize their weddings, vow renewals or post-wedding parties are 100% going to be a thing in a year or two (just like how babymoons became something to do). If you shun everyone who didn’t come to your covid wedding now, you won’t have nearly the guest list you’d like when there’s a vaccine and you can have another party.
The point is: Yes, this sucks, but your friends aren’t bad people for not coming to your wedding rn. Don’t be a d*ck and hopefully, we can all go back to grinding on the dance floor to “Get Low” while our grandparents watch in horror someday soon.
Say Yes to the Betch & subscribe to our weekly Betches Brides newsletter here.
Image: Analise Benevides on Unsplash; betchesbrides / Instagram
As coronavirus cases climb in the United States, American passports appear to be losing their value. But America is GREAT AGAIN, haven’t you heard? Thanks, Donny! As if a raging pandemic, lack of accessible healthcare, and systemic racism weren’t enough, you can say au revoir to your European summer holiday, as well as vacations in a bunch of other places around the globe. Great. As the European Union prepares to reopen, U.S. travelers did not make the 15-country safe list and have officially been blocked from entering. So, where else can Americans travel right now? And better yet, should they travel or cancel trips this summer?
“You Can’t Sit With Us”—The EU, Probably
When the EU closed its borders in March, it was no small decision. The same goes for continuing the ban for Americans, considering the fact that 15 million U.S. travelers visit Europe each year, and the industry creates jobs for 26 million people. Clearly, the bloc’s economy will take a substantial hit as the travel industry’s normally bustling summer season comes and (likely) goes without its usual international visitors. The decision was based on epidemiology as opposed to the economy, with the New York Times reporting that the EU “sought to balance health concerns with politics, diplomacy and the desperate need for tourism revenue.”
Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Japan are on the list of approved countries, and that list will be reviewed every two weeks. However, it seems that the U.S. will have to make a serious reduction in new cases in order to be reconsidered, so we won’t be holding our breath. Unlike Americans, travelers from the approved country list will be permitted access to all EU member states, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. So if you had hoped for some thirst-trap pics for your grid in Iceland’s Blue Lagoon this summer, you’ll have to keep your posting closer to home.
There’s good news for some Americans, as the ban pertains to your residency rather than your passport. This means if you’re an American living in one of the approved countries and can prove your residency there, you may be able to enter. Congrats—it’s like a get out of jail free card!
Cruel Summer—The Countries Americans Can’t Visit
In addition to the EU, there are also a number of other countries not allowing Americans in. Canada’s regulation hottie Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently announced the continuation of its border closure with the U.S. until August 21, with the possibility of another extension. Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and China’s borders also remain closed to all international arrivals.
honestly it’s surprising that the Bahamas are just now banning Americans when Fyre Festival was like three years ago
— Betches (@betchesluvthis) July 20, 2020
As of July 22, the Bahamas has once again closed its borders to the U.S. due to the recent rise in cases stateside. However, if you’re bougie enough to have a private plane or yacht, you can keep planning your vacation as long as you can provide a negative COVID test… but you may get roasted by the internet for being a covidiot if you do.
Countries Open To American Travelers
Dreaming of the beach? You might be in luck, as a number of Caribbean countries are open to visitors. Belize, Barbados, and Jamaica are all open to international travel, as well as St. Barts, St. Lucia, and Antigua. However, each country or territory has its own COVID restrictions upon entry. Some include providing a negative COVID-19 test no more than a week old, or temperature and health checks upon arrival.
Mexico is also an option, even though the land border between the country and the U.S. remains closed. You can still arrive in certain areas by plane, but keep in mind that states are opening in varying degrees, so not everywhere in the country is ready for visitors.
Despite the ban, Europe is not completely off-limits to Americans this summer; the open countries just might not be the places you have at the top of your bucket list. Albania and Serbia are European countries not yet in the EU that are currently allowing international travelers, so start your research on their tourist destinations if you really want to book a trip. Apparently Serbia has a killer wine region—who knew? Additionally, Croatia has decided to issue its own travel requirements outside of the EU’s restrictions, allowing for non-EU citizens to visit, but requiring proof of pre-booked accommodations. Meanwhile, in the UK (no longer an EU member, as you may recall), international travel is permitted; however, all American arrivals must quarantine for 14 days upon entry.
“Just Because You Ameri-can Doesn’t Mean You Ameri-should”
I hate to be the Debbie Downer here, but even though some countries are open doesn’t mean you should be booking the first flight out. The CDC and the U.S. State Department still have travel advisories that warn against non-essential travel. You know what sucks more than wearing a mask during your staycation? Being on a ventilator.
As much as you’re eager to take new travel Instagrams, we are still amidst a pandemic, and there are still a lot of risks associated with travel. Air travel may increase your exposure to the virus due to difficulties with social distancing and being near people indoors for an extended period of time. If you do decide to fly, take the common-sense precautions we’ve been talking about for the last five months: wash your hands regularly, wear a mask, cover your face when you cough or sneeze, and stay six feet apart when possible.
Travelers should also consider the practical risks, like obtaining health insurance. Some travel health insurance becomes void when there is a government travel advisory, so be sure to always check to see that you will be covered in case you get sick or injured during a vacation.
Many countries are not as lax as the U.S., with nations like Canada and New Zealand still keeping their borders completely closed to visitors even though they have drastically fewer cases and deaths than the U.S. The countries are also enforcing mandatory 14-day quarantine to anyone who enters the country. Additionally, countries like Australia have issued a complete ban on overseas travel, and any exemptions must be approved by the government. Given that the success of flattening the curve in these countries has far outweighed the efforts (or lack thereof) of American officials, it might be wise to take a page from their book.
Party In The USA, Because You Won’t Be Going Anywhere Else
Yes, 2020 has indeed been a horror show, with the U.S. as its main character. For now, let’s hope that next year gets a whole lot better and we can resume our partying in Mykonos in 2021. On the bright side, where other than America can we see a Karen go postal in a Trader Joe’s because her CoNsTiTuTiOnAL rIGhTs are being violated? Plus, there’s still an election that could go horribly wrong! Seriously, just so much to look forward to this year.
Do everyone a favor and find a friend with a beach or lake house, and just stay the fuck home/in said vacation house and drink margaritas until Florida feels like Florence. Good luck.
Images: Anna Shvets / Pexels
Once upon a time, the most challenging decisions a bride had to make were who would be a bridesmaid, who would walk her down the aisle, and how to get out of inviting her annoying college roommate who always dresses way too provocatively at events. Granted, none of that was easy and even back in the pre-coronavirus days, the wedding stress was out of control. Now, however, brides are faced with new hurdles after already going through the previous ones, the biggest of which is whether or not to have a virtual wedding, and how to go about doing it.
Since no one can go anywhere or be near each other, those 100+ people weddings are obviously out, but a virtual wedding isn’t necessarily cut and dry either. For a legal marriage, you need the essentials (license, officiant, exchange of promises, signatures, and sometimes witnesses). If you’re considering tying the knot on-screen, however, you might be confused about how to go about making that happen.
Since more and more couples are opting for virtual nuptials, we’re breaking down the hows, the whys, and the whats you need to have a legal and memorial Zoom wedding. “Everyone deserves to be excited and celebrate this most important milestone,” says Caroline Colavita, the director of e-commerce for Adrianna Papell. “You’ll want to feel like The Bride, not just another Zoom happy hour attendee.” From the legalities to the psychology behind ceremonies, here’s how to make your Zoom wedding feel just as, if not even more special than the in-person one you originally planned.
What/Who Do You Need
Wedding 101: Every state is different surrounding the rules and regulations of marriage. As any bride will tell you, part of the process is digging deep and figuring out what, exactly, you need to be legally wed in your state (or in the state you’re getting married in) because making it simple is not part of the process. Still, most places adhere to the basics. According to Martha Stewart Weddings, “A legal ceremony includes a signed, state-issued marriage license and ‘an exchange of promises.'”
In order to make that happen, you need to obtain a marriage license, have an officiant conduct the ceremony, exchange promises (this is usually where the “I do” portion of the ceremony comes in, but this could also be exchanging of rings or doing a handfasting), and getting the necessary signatures on your license before mailing it in. In some states, this means you need to have a couple of in-person witnesses there as well to sign your license and confirm that both parties actually like, want to get married. You know, the whole signed, sealed, delivered? That’s basically the essence of what’s got to go down to make your marriage legal, whether it’s virtual or in-person.
Where You Can Do This Virtually
The hurdle couples are currently having to face is that with courthouses and other state facilities closed, obtaining a marriage license and/or having a ceremony with a legal officiant can be difficult, if not impossible. Some states, like New York, are changing the rules to allow couples to have legally binding virtual weddings, in light of the pandemic. On April 25, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order which allows New Yorkers to not only obtain marriage licenses remotely, but also allows clerks to perform ceremonies via video calls.
In addition to New York, couples in Colorado are now able to apply for marriage licenses online, and couples in Ohio’s Cuyahoga County can obtain their licenses via video call in special circumstances. Some states have select drive-in hours for obtaining licenses or having a ceremony conducted by a clerk. Call your local office for your location-specific info.
If you managed to obtain your license before the world ended (and it’s still “good”—some last only days and some last months), you can have a willing family member or friend become ordained online through the Universal Life Church or the American Marriage Ministries. This will give them the authority to legally marry you in a non-denominational ceremony. That said, depending on your state’s regulations, your officiant and/or witnesses may need to be in person. (Just please, adhere to the six feet apart rule!) Call your local clerk office or visit their website for your county’s regulations.
A Commitment Ceremony
If your state has a freeze on marriage licenses or their doors are closed (and obtaining one virtually à la New York isn’t an option), that doesn’t mean you can’t have a ceremony to celebrate the big day. Just like your birthday month, when you’re a bride, you get to have as many GD celebrations as you want. That’s just like, the rules of marriage. If you can’t get the license but want to still make a commitment on your original planned date, have a ceremony anyway.
Without a license, you can have a commitment ceremony that feels just as magical, just be careful with how you word it. “A commitment ceremony, while lovely, is not legally binding and has no requirements. It is important that the couple or the officiant not use language to imply a legal marriage is occurring, as this can be construed as fraud,” Diane Smith-Hoban, executive director of the non-denominational officiant group Journeys of the Heart explained to Martha Stewart Weddings.
The only difference between the two ceremonies is that a commitment ceremony isn’t legally binding. But if that’s the day you want, have a ceremony and then sign the paperwork once you’re able. Just because it’s not at the same time, it doesn’t make it any less official. There are tons of tips online about how to have a commitment ceremony, but basically, you just can’t use language that says “you’re married.” Bonus? You don’t need an officiant or anything particular to make it work—it can be entirely your own.
How To Make It Special
So, you’re having a virtual commitment ceremony, whether legally binding or not. THIS IS EXCITING, and don’t let anyone tell you any differently. “We are living during a key point in history and one of the most important moments of your adult life,” says Louisa Rechter and Alessandra Perez-Rubio, the Founders of Mestiza New York. “You will want to document every moment, tell your grandchildren about what happened that day, and pull out the dress you wore as a cherished family heirloom! It will be incredibly special and memorable.”
Utilizing rituals and wedding traditions, such as dances, music, dressing up, and dining, will literally help your mind understand you’re starting a new stage of your life.
Dress The Part: Whether you wear ~the~ dress or order something new, this is the time to get full-on glam. “Do a try-on session with your mom and/or maid of honor. Get their input just as you would at your local bridal salon,” suggests Colavita. Don’t be afraid to wear a non-traditional gown—this is about YOU feeling bridal. While Amazon has delayed shipping for non-essential items, other retailers, such as Rent The Runway, Adrianna Papell, and Mestiza are still fulfilling orders in a timely manner so you can get a gorgeous look in time for your Zoom ceremony.
Set The Stage: Pull out those Christmas lights, order some flowers from a local nursery, have some mimosas while getting ready, and light allllll of the candles. Just because your wedding is different than you originally planned, it doesn’t make it any less special. In fact, considering you’re facing the GLOBAL F*CKING PANDEMIC together and making the best of it, that kind of makes this even more special if you ask me. You’re like, very brave and very pretty. So, live it up! Decorate your space, put on those false lashes, play that perfectly curated prelude music.
Keep The Traditions: Always dreamed of having your dad walk you down the aisle, having your first dance with your hubby, or cutting the cake together? There’s no reason you can’t do all of those long-loved (or hated) traditions. Hell, being at home means you can be even more creative and do exactly what you want. Have a cardboard cutout of your dad made so he can walk down the hallway with you. Sew some dog bones on a garter and toss it to you’re pups after your S.O. removes it. Have a literal cake fight in your backyard. Do it all and do it exactly how you want because the only people that matter are you two.
Document The Experience: Zoom weddings are all the rage right now, so don’t hold back from documenting your day/prep just as you would with an in-person ceremony. Have a hashtag, have a bachelorette party, and spam your feeds with photos just as you would have originally. “Get a selfie stick with a tripod and timer so your significant other can capture the evening. You will want special photos to look back on,” advises Colavita. Just because the celebrations might look a little different, it doesn’t make them any less Insta-worthy.
Soak It Up: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: This is still your day. This is still your wedding. This is still your marriage. Get dressed up, decorate your space, and have a staycation honeymoon right after. It might feel silly, but go over-the-top making your day feel memorable from home. Someday when you look back, you’ll remember how you started your love story during a very dark time in our history, and honestly? I can’t really think of anything more romantic than that.
Images: Eliza Szablinska / Unsplash; Giphy (3)
UPDATE: Over the past few weeks, the global spread of COVID-19 has affected nearly everything about our society. A few weeks ago, we were mostly going about our business, but then everything changed. As health concerns escalated, the cancelations started pouring in. With large gatherings outlawed and entire cities and states under shelter in place orders, pretty much everything in March and April has been put on hold.
But now, as we move forward, major events later in the spring and into the summer are having to face tough decisions about whether they should cancel or postpone. It’s a tough balance between taking the necessary precautions, and trying to maintain things as normally as possible. Here are some of the biggest cancelation updates since the initial wave a few weeks ago.
The Olympics
Before the impact of coronavirus was really felt in the US, there was already speculation that this year’s Summer Olympics could be affected. This week, those fears became reality, as the International Olympic Committee announced that the Tokyo 2020 Games will be postponed to 2021. Obviously travel and crowd concerns were a major factor, but the Olympic qualification process for many sports has been disrupted by all the cancelations this spring. Exact dates for Tokyo 2021 haven’t been announced yet, but the organizers say they will be no later than summer.
The Met Gala
The first Monday in May will be a lot less fashionable this year. The annual A-list gala is held at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, which is currently closed until further notice. This left the gala organizers no choice but to postpone, and there hasn’t been a new date announced. This year’s theme is “About Time,” and now all our favorite fashionable celebs will have a little more ~time~ to work on their looks. Whenever the Met Gala does happen, I expect perfection.
More Festivals
The first wave of spring festivals, like Ultra and Coachella, were quick to announce postponements or cancelations, but now the disruptions are pushing further and further into festival season. The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (aka JazzFest), was pushed from late April to the fall. May’s Lovers & Friends Festival, which we were already skeptical about, has been pushed to August and reduced to a single day. And New York City’s Governor’s Ball, normally held in early June, is canceled altogether after efforts to find a new date fell through. Basically, if you have festival plans any time in the next couple months, don’t be too confident that those won’t be messed up.
Music festivals aren’t the only ones being affected. The Cannes Film Festival, normally held in May, has announced an indefinite postponement, along with an extension of deadlines for film submissions. But while the organizers say they are hoping for a “deferred event,” they’ve acknowledged that the final result might be a full cancelation. The calendar for rescheduled events is going to be pretty packed later this year, and there might not be room for everything.
The Tony Awards
As of right now, all Broadway theaters are closed until April 13th. It seems likely that the closure will be extended, but either way, the Broadway season is basically f*cked. The deadline for shows to open in order to be Tony-eligible is in late April, meaning that many new shows were set to open in March and April. With that in mind, it only made sense for the Tonys, usually in early June, to be pushed to later in the year. Surely the eligibility deadlines will be adjusted, and hopefully the damage can be minimized.
But much damage has already been done, and some shows won’t recover. Two shows set to open during this period have announced that they won’t open at all, and multiple other planned spring openings have been pushed to the fall. New shows on Broadway are already financially precarious under normal circumstances, so the effects of the pandemic could be especially drastic here.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: When it comes to the global spread of COVID-19, this week has felt like a major tipping point. At this point, coronavirus is a pandemic, confirmed cases are pretty much everywhere, and more and more major events are being affected every day. With all the cancelations, postponements, and other updates, It’s basically impossible to keep up with every coronavirus development, but what else are we supposed to talk about right now? Here are some of the major things that have been canceled because of coronavirus so far.
Cruises
I’m not trying to go on a cruise even when there’s not a pandemic, but yeah, now seems like an especially bad time. Last month, passengers on the cruise ship Diamond Princess were quarantined off the coast of Japan for two weeks, and by the time they disembarked, over 600 passengers had been infected. This is easily my biggest nightmare. Other cruise ships have been affected in recent weeks, and this week, companies are starting to pull the plug. In the past two days, Princess Cruises announced a 60-day shutdown, and Viking Cruises announced it will suspend operations until April 30th. These are the first two major cruise companies to shut down due to the outbreak, but I can’t imagine they’ll be the last.
Sporting Events
NBA To Suspend Season Following Tonight's Games pic.twitter.com/2PTx2fkLlW
— NBA (@NBA) March 12, 2020
This week has basically been a domino effect in the sporting world. On Sunday night, the BNP Paribas Open, one of the world’s largest tennis tournaments, was canceled just hours before it was scheduled to begin outside of Palm Springs. On Monday, the Italian government shut down all sports, including the top-tier Serie A football league, which had already been playing without fans present, until at least early April. On Wednesday, it was announced that the World Figure Skating Championships, scheduled for next week in Montreal, will not be held. Last night came perhaps the biggest announcement yet—that the NBA will suspend its season “until further notice” after Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert tested positive for coronavirus.
On Thursday, the high-profile cancelations kept rolling in. Early in the day, the ATP—the governing body for men’s tennis—announced an historic six-week suspension of their season, immediately canceling upcoming tournaments on four different continents. Soon after, the NHL and MLB both followed the NBA’s lead, suspending their seasons. Major League Baseball is currently in spring training, and those games will be canceled. The start of the regular season, usually in early April, will be postponed until further notice.
At the moment, some other sporting events are pressing on, but not without some major restrictions in place. On Wednesday, the NCAA announced that the 2020 March Madness tournament will be played with no fans present, an unprecedented decision meant to fight the spread of the virus. The tournament is scheduled to begin next week, so it remains to be seen whether this decision will hold up, but obviously there’s a lot of money on the line with large-scale events like this. It’s a strange time to be a sports fan, and no doubt more events will be affected before things get back to normal.
Schools
For many of us, it’s not a big deal to work from home for a couple weeks. But with growing health concerns, schools are being forced to grapple with how to take things remote. Many colleges and universities have announced this week that classes will be held online—some for the remainder of the semester. Along with these decisions, many schools are forcing students to move out of their on-campus housing and return home within the next few days. For some schools that are currently on spring break, students won’t even be allowed to return to campus to get their things until an unspecified later date. All I can say is I’m glad I’m not still in college, because I would be having a full-blown nervous breakdown.
Festivals & Concerts
As we all know by now, Coachella and Stagecoach have been postponed until October. Other than the fact that they won’t be able to provide storylines for Bachelor In Paradise, at least they’re still happening. Other festivals haven’t been so lucky, and have been forced to cancel altogether. Miami’s Ultra and Calle Ocho festivals were the first major cancelations, followed by Austin’s SXSW. Those are the biggest festivals that have been affected so far, but depending on the situation in the coming weeks, many more festivals in the spring and early summer could be at risk.
In the more immediate timeframe, countless artists have canceled or postponed tour dates because of coronavirus concerns. Avril Lavigne was forced to cancel an entire Asian tour, and Madonna axed her planned shows in Paris after limitations were placed on large public gatherings. Other artists who have canceled shows include BTS, Cher, and Mariah Carey, but the list is only getting longer.
TV Shows
(SPOILER): I’m sure ABC will make it official soon, but “Summer Games” I’m hearing is cancelled due to the coronavirus. With international contestants on the show, it’s too risky and they don’t want to take a chance.
— RealitySteve (@RealitySteve) March 11, 2020
Nothing is safe at this point—not even our precious Bachelor shows. Reality Steve reported on Wednesday afternoon that The Bachelor Summer Games will be canceled because of the pandemic, with an official announcement expected soon. This makes sense, considering that the show involves contestants traveling from other countries, and with the new European travel ban, who knows if they’ll even be allowed in the country. Honestly, I don’t know if people will be so sad about this, but it’ll be a different story if Paradise gets messed up. ABC, we need this now more than ever.
Numerous other shows have also been affected, including Riverdale, which halted production this week over fears that someone working on the show was exposed to coronavirus. Additionally, Survivor and The Amazing Race have both announced production will be delayed due to travel concerns for their cast and crew. On top of this, many talk shows are taping without studio audiences for the near future, including The View, Wendy Williams, and Today. That could just be the tip of the iceberg in terms of the effects on the entertainment industry, but it’s too soon to know.
St. Patrick’s Day
Depending on where you’re at in life, this will either be devastating, or something you never would have even thought about. On Wednesday, the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade was officially postponed to an unspecified later date. I’m not sure anyone will care about St. Patrick’s day in June, but whatever, canceling is tough. This decision came after Ireland shut down its St. Patrick’s Day festivities, and Boston did the same. I guess you can still go to the bar and drink Guinness if you want, but the vibe is definitely going to be different this year.
Nightlife
You know sh*t is really getting serious when Miami nightclubs are shutting down. Today, it was announced that LIV and Story will be “temporarily pausing operations” until the situation is under control. Also today, the mayor of Jersey City announced that the city will implement a 10pm curfew at bars and nightclubs, because we all know you can’t get sick before 10pm. Whatever, I don’t make the decisions here.
There are more and more coronavirus-related updates happening literally every minute, so it’s tough to keep track of what’s going on, but hopefully this helped. Obviously, things are changing quickly, and all we can do is try to stay safe and make smart choices. Wash your f*cking hands!
Images: Artem Pachkovskyi/Shutterstock
