The hate in this community is absurd': Politician lashes out at claims that her daughter flouted covid rules before getting sick

Ms McKinlay’s daughter defends herself on Instagram, accuses critics of ‘stalking college girls’ Instagrams’

A county commissioner in Florida lashed out at critics after they accused her of hypocrisy for pushing for coronavirus safety guidelines while letting her daughter, who has Covid-19, defy them.  

On Tuesday, Palm Beach County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay announced her daughter had been admitted to the emergency room with Covid-19, according to the ^, which originally reported the story.  

Shortly after the announcement, Boca Raton resident Rachel Eade posted pictures and video to Facebook from Ms McKinlay's daughter's Instagram page.  

One of the images showed Ms McKinlay's daughter lip-synching with a friend, and photos from 6 September shows her with a friend with neither wearing a mask.  

Ms McKinlay defended her daughter and claimed she has followed all coronavirus safety protocols while attending the University of Central Florida in Orlando.  

"She was home with me all summer. She followed the rules, she wore her mask, she washed her hands," McKinlay said. "She takes that threat seriously. She finds it absolutely ridiculous and laughable that people are making these accusations."

She tested for Covid-19 three days after the 6 September photo, and learned she was positive a week later. Ms McKinley's actual test came back negative.  

According to the Palm Beach Post, Ms McKinlay has been a vocal proponent for reopening businesses amid the pandemic and added her name to a lawsuit aimed at reversing the county's mask policy.  

After Ms Eade posted the photos, Ms McKinlay lashed out on her official county commission Facebook page.  

"My God, the hate in this community is absurd," she wrote. "You should be ashamed of it. I don´t give a damn if you don´t vote for me again. Your vote isn´t one I want."

Ms Eade told the Palm Beach Post that she shared the photos and video to hold Ms McKinlay accountable to her own policies. She said it was "no different" than when the commissioners post images of people ignoring Covid-19 safety guidelines at nightclubs to "make a point that 'health advice' was not being heeded.'"

"As a representative of the people, this board cannot expect to stop the world, shutter businesses in our community, destroy livelihoods, take food off the plates of families and children, restrict the breathing and movement of an entire community, and not expect there to be individuals who investigate whether their actions back up their words," Ms Eade told the Palm Beach Post.

Ms Eade suggested that Ms McKinlay's post about her daughter's admission to the hospital with Covid-19 was a "partial sob story."

"As a mother, I certainly wish no child ill, but we have to ask why she feels her own child is not bound by the rules she is creating and trying to enforce?" Ms Eade wrote.

Ms McKinlay's daughter took to Instagram to defend herself and shame her critics on Thursday.  

"This should show many of you, that jumping to conclusions can often leave you looking quite dense. Maybe if you put half the time you spent stalking a college girl´s Instagram, into worrying about more important things going on in the world, you could help a cause in need," she wrote.  

She included links to wildfire relief organisations, child trafficking awareness groups, addiction prevention and Black Lives Matter groups on the Instagram post.