'RHOC's Kelly Dodd doubles down on COVID-19 criticism on Instagram, loses partnership with Positive Beverage
Kelly Dodd doubled down on her criticism of COVID-19 protocols during a weekend where the "Real Housewives of Orange County" star posted controversial social media videos decrying the measures.
In a series of Instagram Stories videos, Dodd celebrated with friends at Orange County restaurants, vocally opining against restrictions to combat the contagious virus.
At Billy's at the Beach in Newport Beach, the maskless crowd in her videos gave cheers over mai tais to not wearing face masks. At another location, Dodd celebrated with a table of maskless friends and her husband, Fox News' Rick Leventhal, voicing criticism of mask mandates and California Gov. Gavin Newsom. "Gavin's going down," Dodd said in one video.
In another Instagram Stories video, Dodd reacted to online criticism to her videos in real-time as friends sat in a car's backseat reading online articles aloud about the uproar.
"I'm not a super spreader because there is nothing to spread," Dodd said in the video, claiming that she and her friends "all got the (COVID-19) vaccine. And we don't have it. So there's nothing to spread."
"The sheeple are mad," added Dodd, using a slang term for docile people to describe her critics.
In another Instagram video, Dodd drew out comparisons to living with COVID-19 restrictions in San Francisco to living in Russia.
On Sunday, Positive Beverage, the sparkling water beverage company that has worked with Dodd for two years, parted ways with the "RHOC" star amid the growing social media furor.
"Our core values of wellness, community, diversity and inclusion should be reflected by our brand and anyone associated with it," Zach Muchnick, Positive Beverage head of brand, said in a statement posted on the company's Instagram Stories. "It has become clear over the past few months that Kelly’s controversial views and opinions have distracted from our primary objectives, so effective today, we are no longer affiliated with Kelly Dodd-Leventhal."
"We welcome all people — however they are and whatever they are passionate about — to Positive Beverage," CEO Shannon Argyros said in the statement. "But there must always be an underlying layer of respect. Unfortunately, we feel Kelly’s stance is no longer congruent with our core values.
"We do not align with her opinions or global views while we uphold our own values," the statement said.
Dodd tweeted a response on Sunday, "I’m glad I could help put Positive Beverage on the map and wish them well. I’m also really excited about my next venture in the beauty industry, which is my real passion. Stay tuned!"
USA TODAY has reached out to Dodd for further comment. Bravo TV declined to com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'RHOC': Kelly Dodd doubles down on COVID-19 criticism amid backlash