‘Are you really a mayor?’ Kentucky official’s profane coronavirus post sparks backlash

A mayor in Kentucky is receiving backlash after making an expletive-laden post about the coronavirus to a local Facebook group.

Gabe Brown, mayor of Walton, posted to the Boone County Neighborhood Facebook group on Monday with a strong message to residents.

“Listen up dips--ts and sensible people,” the post began, “I might not have the best bedside manor. I might not put you at ease like the Governor does, but I don’t care. You need to realize that this is a serious ordeal.”

The post went on to call the global coronavirus pandemic “a big f**cking deal” and implored residents to stay at home.

“I pray every night that the State, County and region that I love with all of my heart will stop doing nonsensical things,” he wrote. “Treat this seriously. If you don’t, then screw you (f#ck you is what I want to say, but I can’t).”

Walton is roughly 60 miles north of Lexington, and its population was 3,974 in 2017.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear announced Boone County’s first case of coronavirus on Monday, according to the Louisville Courier Journal. The state has 124 confirmed cases including four deaths as of Monday, according to the outlet.

“More cases are coming,” Brown’s post said. “If you ignore this problem, the worst thing that could happen is that your mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, aunts, uncles could die. Be responsible. If you don’t, then screw you.”

The post has been shared 168 times and garnered more than 290 comments as of Tuesday. You can read it here.

Some commenters approved of Brown’s no-nonsense approach.

“Can I work for you??? I would love a boss like you!!!” one user wrote.

“I’m moving back to Walton next election just to vote for you again,” wrote another.

“He says and tells it like it is,” wrote a third.

“Sometimes you have to slap them in the face to get their attention!!” wrote another.

Most, however, expressed their dismay, calling Brown’s professionalism into question.

“Geeze...are you really a mayor?” one user wrote.

“Wow, what a mayor,” wrote another. “You sound worse than all the rest. I would never talk to people the way you are. How about you go find something else to do.”

“Wow…” wrote a third. “How unprofessional.”

“You have a foul mouth,” wrote another. “If you feel that way about your city that you are the mayor of then resign, step down or whatever and let some one else whose respects the people of the city you are mayor of and dislike so much.”

Brown was appointed mayor in 2018 to complete an unexpired term. He was elected to the position, uncontested, that November, according to Courier Journal.

This story was originally published March 24, 2020 at 1:20 PM.