Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott is going viral after he asked a man to pull up his mask during a press conference Tuesday. “Shorty, pull your mask up,” Scott said to a man interrupting his press conference on the latest COVID-19 numbers.
via: Complex
COVID-19 brought gathering and live entertainment to a halt. And while it’s far down the list of the worst effects of this required shutdown, the lack of shows has brought with it a loss of the collective schadenfreude at seeing a heckler put in their place.
It’s in this environment that clapback-starved Twitter users have grasped upon a nascent catchphrase from Baltimore mayor Brandon Scott. Staring down a shouting man during a press conference on COVID-19 mandates, he said “Shorty, pull your mask up” reminding him that “people dying.”
Baltimore elected a LIT ass mayor. He wants all the smoke. ??? #brandonscott
Follow @polialertcom for political news and Civics 101 pic.twitter.com/e9HmY60DQE
— Baller Alert ? (@balleralert) January 5, 2021
Though the phrase resonated and will no doubt be on T-shirts and face masks within the week, it’s worth noting that Scott wasn’t calling a random citizen “shorty.” Scott was speaking to Baltimore activist Duane “Shorty” Davis, who pointed out the oversight on Twitter and in a video and was backed by other locals:
Because I keep seeing this: The "shorty" in the video of Baltimore's Mayor Brandon Scott is activist Duane "Shorty" Davis. He is a protest institution unto himself and is a tireless advocate for the city.
He is also an artist. My piece on him from 2015 https://t.co/s5I8Z2h46o
— brandon soderberg (@notrivia) January 5, 2021
Never one to let the truth get in the way of a good catchphrase, Twitter gushed over the mayor’s response.
I have a brand new favorite politician and it’s Baltimore’s new mayor Brandon Scott.
This whole exchange is great.
“Shorty, pull your mask up. People are dyin’.” https://t.co/9rpOre9gyu
— Rex Chapman?? (@RexChapman) January 5, 2021
“Pull your mask up, shorty” = Baltimore’s next COVID safety campaign https://t.co/KOnXyTnZKV
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) January 5, 2021
Baltimore Mayor from the trenches lol “hold tight shorty and pull your mask up” ??
— Tre' Ford (@Coach_Tre3) January 6, 2021
Shorty pull your mask up ???? that Baltimore came out with a quickness
— Mrs John Wick (@travelin_always) January 5, 2021
“Shorty pull yo mask up man”
– Brandon Scott (2021) pic.twitter.com/PwfUg0unVg— Logo (@RealRodell) January 5, 2021
No surprise it’s mainly his own people putting him down as if he should “conform” to some imaginary standard. It’s 2021 and y’all still telling people to “act professional”. But we know what that means ???
— dinner plate-sized areola stan acct ? (@mattyaintshit) January 5, 2021
Baltimore is loaded with creativity.
Earlier today Mayor Brandon Scott interrupted his press briefing to tell the man who interrupted him (@shortman_9)to pull up his mask
Tonight: https://t.co/TXCgelJ9Pm— Jayne Miller (@jemillerbalt) January 6, 2021
Shorty pull your mask up is the energy we needed for 2021.
