Nancy Pelosi found herself in a mini-political drama this week after visiting a salon in San Francisco on Monday, without a mask and against the guidelines laid out in California. The easily avoidable “scandal” has placed a target on Pelosi this week, taking some heat away from the Trump administration and lawmakers who have yet to pass a stimulus package through Congress.
Pelosi blamed the salon owner for turning the hair appointment into a “set up,” something the House’s Speaker has received flack for from critics and others online. Pelosi feels she is owed an apology for the incident while Trump supporters and critics are slamming her for hypocrisy amid the coronavirus pandemic.
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#BREAKING: The lawyer representing Jonathan DeNardo, the #SanFrancisco cosmetologist who did Nancy Pelosi’s hair before the city allowed salons to operate indoors, released a statement Wednesday.
Read full statement here: https://t.co/wcKOysBZBh pic.twitter.com/a1Ob37kD3m
— KRON4 News (@kron4news) September 3, 2020
However, Pelosi has a supporter in the form of eSalon hairstylist Jonathan DeNardo. The employee claims his boss, owner Erica Kious, set up Pelosi and agreed the hairdresser could work with the lawmaker Monday. According to DeNardo, the incident stems from an angry business owner who was unhappy their business was closed due to the pandemic.
“The fact that Ms. Kious is now objecting to Speaker Pelosi’s presence at eSalon, and from a simple surface-level review of Ms. Kious’ political leanings, it appears Ms. Kious is furthering a setup of Speaker Pelosi for her own vain aspirations,” a statement from DeNardo’s attorney, Matthew Soleimanpour, read. “Ms. Kious took special interest in the appointment during this telephone call, wherein she made several vitriolic and incendiary comments about Speaker Pelosi and her purported responsibility for temporarily suspending operations of Ms. Kious’ business.”
Kious spoke with Tucker Carlson on Wednesday night, denying the idea of a set up and explaining why she had a video to share with the Fox News host. “I’ve had a camera system in there for five years,” Kious told Carlson. “I mean, I didn’t go in there and turn cameras on as soon as she walked in and set her up. So that is absolutely false.”
As with most political stories, people took sides and have either shown generous support to Kious and Pelosi or demonized both women. Kious claims she’s received death threats after her TV appearance and Pelosi’s allegations about the set up. There were also protesters outside of Pelosi’s home after the news spread. Scroll down to see some of the responses.
#eSalon owner #EricaKious thought she was clever and it backfired. Glad the stylist lawyered up!
— N I C K (@norcalnick) September 3, 2020
Sounds like a setup but Pelosi should of known better too. We all know the rules in the bay area.
— Broken Halo 💔 👼 (@HaloAK5) September 3, 2020
Droplets around water vapor = more dangerous situation for spreading the virus. It’s not petty and who gets their mouth and nose wet during a salon hair wash?
— M (@MCharikPro) September 3, 2020
Pelosi knew the Covid rules! After her hair was washed she should have put her mask on at the very least. Did the stylist take her temperature like mine does? The stylist probably received a huge tip. She thinks she has priority over lesser people!
— Angela Owen (@AngelaO57852376) September 3, 2020
Why is everyone so worked up about Trump calling dead US soldiers “losers” and “suckers.” Don’t you people understand that Nancy Pelosi got a hair cut the other day? Have you already forgotten?
— Reza Aslan (@rezaaslan) September 4, 2020
People upset with Nancy Pelosi violating a local health order during a recent salon visit are protesting outside her home in San Francisco https://t.co/P1lYhQFl4K
— KTVU (@KTVU) September 3, 2020
Nancy Pelosi got a haircut and republicans act like she committed a crime. Shelley Luther actually committed a crime and Republicans flipped out and Cruz flew to TX to get his haircut by her. Why was Ted Cruz’ shitty haircut considered patriotic and Nancy’s considered treasonous? pic.twitter.com/9HkXT69kdi
— Amelia (@agerson24) September 4, 2020
President Trump: “If [Nancy Pelosi] was set up — then she shouldn’t be leading the House of Representatives. I want the salon owner to lead the House of Representatives.” pic.twitter.com/K2GeITj4Xr
— The Hill (@thehill) September 4, 2020
