Reeves caught in party scandal
Keanu Reeves’ reputation as one of Hollywood’s coolest A-listers is taking a hit with news that the actor was among 200 who attended a wrap party in Germany last week for the new “Matrix” movie, with reports saying that the party violated local COVID-19 restrictions.
The Guardian, citing a report in the German tabloid Bild, said the party was disguised as a film shoot in order to bypass the health guidelines.
The party took place at the Babelsberg film studios in Potsdam, just west of Berlin and in the state of Brandenburg, which is part of the larger Berlin metropolitan area. Parties of up to 50 people are allowed in Brandenburg, but only after hosts have registered in advance and received approval from authorities for a hygiene plan, which must include guidelines for guests to practice social distancing and wear masks, The Guardian said.
The arrangements have gotten the studio — and Reeves, by association — into trouble, as Bild reported. Reeves’ reputation rests on accounts of how he is an essentially decent and modest person who is kind to fans he encounters in public. He also has never been reported flaunting or abusing the privilege of his considerable wealth and fame.
That is, unlike Kim Kardashian and Kendall Jenner. The reality TV sisters both faced massive online backlash for throwing lavish birthday parties for themselves amid the pandemic, which is causing a new, fast- growing surge of cases in California and the United States. Images posted to social media showed guests at K ardashian’s Tahitian birthday getaway and at Jenner’s West Hollywood bash crowded together, not wearing masks and not social distancing.
As much as representatives for Kardashian and Jenner insisted that the hosts took safety precautions, and that guests were screened before joining the parties, the sisters’ choice to be seen hosting such large gatherings left fans angry over the idea that they think the health guidelines don’t apply to them.