Article Lead Image

Bogdan Steblyanko/Shutterstock Crown Publishing/YouTube (Licensed) Remix by Jason Reed

‘Obama variant’ trends after photos from former president’s birthday party go viral

The 'Obama variant' is (probably) not real.

 

David Covucci

Tech

Posted on Aug 9, 2021   Updated on Aug 10, 2021, 9:53 am CDT

It can be hard to keep track of the numerous coronavirus variants that are tearing through the planet. There’s delta, and lambda, and gamma, and now delta plus.

One variant popped up on social media this weekend, but it’s one that you probably don’t need to lose any sleep over, because it’s not real.

The Obama variant.

Former President Barack Obama faced ridicule and ire after it was revealed he planned to throw a nearly 500 person birthday party as the delta variant ripped through the U.S. He since scaled it back, but after the party, posts that showed the president dancing maskless with attendees leaked.

While the invite apparently required guests to be vaccinated—and Obama himself is vaccinated—some online were annoyed and outraged that a world leader would throw such a soirée at time when the messaging to the public is to act with restraint.

Lockdowns appear to be looming in some states, and masks at restaurants are returning. And Obama’s having himself a bash, one which people are joking will lead to a new strain of COVID-19.

https://twitter.com/lograingerrr/status/1424447274298617868

The Obama variant has not been mentioned yet by the CDC, but we’ll be sure to let you know if it becomes a real thing.


Read more of the Daily Dot’s tech and politics coverage

Nevada’s GOP secretary of state candidate follows QAnon, neo-Nazi accounts on Gab, Telegram
Court filing in Bored Apes lawsuit revives claims founders built NFT empire on Nazi ideology
EXCLUSIVE: ‘Say hi to the Donald for us’: Florida police briefed armed right-wing group before they went to Jan. 6 protest
Inside the Proud Boys’ ties to ghost gun sales
‘Judas’: Gab users are furious its founder handed over data to the FBI without a subpoena
EXCLUSIVE: Anti-vax dating site that let people advertise ‘mRNA FREE’ semen left all its user data exposed
Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.
Share this article
*First Published: Aug 9, 2021, 11:23 am CDT