LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Two TikTok stars were charged on Friday for throwing parties in Los Angeles that flouted coronavirus restrictions on large gatherings.
Bryce Hall, 21, and Blake Gray, 19, were charged by Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer with causing a public nuisance and violating local emergency orders over parties in the Hollywood Hills that attracted hundreds of people, most of whom were not wearing masks.
City authorities later shut off water and power to the mansion that was being rented as a place for Hall, Gray and other TikTok influencers to work, live and create new content for the short form video app.
Hall in August threw a 21st birthday bash that was documented on social media by some of those attending. Feuer said it was the second time in as many weeks that police were called out to the house after complaints from neighbors.
“With hundreds of people attending, loud music all night long and cars blocking access for emergency vehicles, party houses are really out of control nightclubs, and they’ve hijacked the quality of life of neighbors nearby,” Feuer said in a statement.
“If you have a combined 19-million followers on TikTok during this health crisis, you should be modeling good behavior – not brazenly violating the law and posting videos about it,” he added.
The owners of two other homes in the Hollywood Hills area that have been the source of numerous complaints were also charged with causing a pubic nuisance.
The offenders could face fines of up to $2,000.
Los Angeles is still operating under strict coronavirus restrictions that have shut down indoor movie theaters, bars, indoor restaurant dining and gyms.
(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Leslie Adler)
