The popular Atlanta nightclub Heretic will shut down until further notice following the spread of COVID-19 at a party there earlier this month.
Heretic hosted a circuit party June 20 featuring a performance by DJ Dan Slater. Though the management of Heretic have acknowledged only two confirmed coronavirus diagnoses, The Advocate now reports that scores of patrons became ill after the party.
Video of the party went viral last week, and shows dozens of shirtless men dancing close together and not wearing masks.
If you were at Heretic Atlanta this weekend you should get tested. pic.twitter.com/SXif90Cxaw
— Nathan (@SinisterThings) June 25, 2020
The video sparked online backlash over the recklessness of the club and its patrons, though initially Heretic’s general manager, Alan Collins, said the club would continue to operate and host events, even providing masks for visitors. Collins released a statement 27 via Facebook backpedaling that assertion; instead, he announced the club will shutter.
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“Out of an abundance of caution,” Collins wrote, “we have decided to postpone all scheduled events until further notice so we can continue to gather more information and adjust our operation accordingly. Full refunds will be issued to those guests who have purchased tickets.”
“The safest mode of operating means maintaining balance and doing the right thing in constantly changing conditions and new information,” Collins further wrote. “We are committed to doing the right thing and are looking at putting together events over the next few months that will make social distancing easier to maintain.” He concluded by saying “Stay Safe and WEAR YOUR DAMN MASKS!!”
The state of Georgia has come under fire for beginning reopening procedures in late April against the recommendations of public health officials. The state has also been criticized for doctoring numbers of infected citizens. Subsequently, cases have skyrocketed in Georiga since late April with more than 79,000 infected people in the state and close to 3,000 deaths.
Note: this article has been updated to specify that DJ Dan Slater was only a performer at the event, not the host. Hosting duties fell solely to Heretic staff.
Chrisk
Jesus f*cking Christ queens. We have a pandemic that’s only getting worse yet you can’t sacrifice your precious need to take your shirts off and bump up against each other like wounded chickens?
I remember back in my club days and the clubbers predictably dropping like flies to GHB or whatever else they just injected. Same old same old. Not much changes in that crowd.
Catholicslutbox
Being shirtless has nothing to do with it. It’s the lack of face masks. The Mask is meant to reduce the chances of you spreading it but just like aids, some people don’t care .
frapachino
Deaths are down!
Den
Deaths are down CURRENTLY. People do not receive a positive test for coronavirus and then drop dead instantly. It usually takes two to three weeks from the onset of symptoms for people to die. Or for those younger people who don’t display much in the way of symptoms, a few weeks until they drop dead from a clot induced hear attack or stroke.
The pride with which you right wingers parade your ignorance of just about everything amazes me!
CKNJ
Reading some comments seems that some are simply idiot apologists or willfully dense… we KNOW how the virus works, right? A few weeks incubation before showing… and shock… illness LEADS TO death, and not just in old people, but increasingly in young people too… and the aftereffects are physically devastating, even when people recover. This is not the flu or something that will have you dancing at the club again in 2 weeks. Many with permanently damaged lungs, thickened blood, etc… I assume those brushing the seriousness aside have not had friends or family die from this, or if they have, they are cold and hateful to still pretend it’s not a hellish and EASY TO GET disease.
winemaker
Outrageous behavior. That said, If I said what i really feel, couldn’t be printed!.
How dare these irresponsible fools do this? Arrest all of them and quarantine each and every one of them at their own expense for their stupidity and selfishness. I live in San Francisco and after 3 + miserable months of having to quarantine at home, no work, businesses closed up, no unemployment, people going broke and are are getting desperate and gruesome gavin ‘give away the store or free along with everything else’ nuisance gets up on television and flaps his worthless lying gums and nothing comes out but nonsensical BULLS**T. It’s selfish idiots like these with the attitude ‘ I want my fun and pleasure and to hell with everyone and everything else and as long as I get my rocks off and have my fun, screw everyone else’ that will make the last 3 + months of sheltering home etc a huge waste of time. Hopefully these selfish fools had their fun albeit short lived. Am I the only one here ticked off at these selfish thoughtless idiots who very possibly endangered a lot of people and the problems this will cause thus prolonging this nightmare?
planetjoel
It’s one thing to put yourself at risk, I think if guys want to have risky sex…that’s their business. However, going to a packed club without proper PPE puts others at risk by spreading the virus through asymptomatic individuals.
batesmotel
Being shirtless has everything to do with it as well. If someone is positive and their droplets land on your skin, you have become contaminated. You touch it without realizing it as it’s splattered on your body and you touch your face. You’re basically smothering it all over you.
fresnoman4man
Masks are bs. If you believe a mask will stop a virus then you believe your undies will stop your farts. As for the assumption of people catching Covid that is also bs cuz the PCR test can’t distinguish between SarsCov2 and the plethora of other Corona virus of which the common cold is one strain as well as a multitude of benign Corona virus. Do some research before buying into the government political “authorities” capricious and unscientific edicts. The antibody tests prove that most have had it and been totally asymptomatic. The real pandemic is really about promoting fear for an ulterior motive. Deaths are from those few who have serious preexisting conditions and were falsely categorized as “Covid” or were killed by ventilating or depression from social isolation.
Paul Nadolski
Just another case of stupid people getting what they deserve for acting stupid. BTW folks, this WON’T go away if you keep acting like this. Some of us (me anyway) haven’t left our homes for months and would like to someday go out again!
frapachino
I hate to break it to you but hiding in your basement isn’t going to make it go away! It will be around for a long time!
Den
Any strategy that reduces transmission descreases the prevalence of this disease. How exactly do you think New York was so successful until now at reducing case load and per capita numbers?
Staying inside as much as possible as physical distancing is impossible in some parts of Manhattan.
Avoiding groups especially indoors.
Those were two of the big ones Einstein.
Scrofulas
Sigh. We should start an info campaign letting the circuit queens know that intubation on a ventilator will really interfere with their ability to deep throat.
TJB
LOL 🙂
Kangol2
That is a form of “deep throating” but not the kind they or anyone wants!
pharaon.em.joe
Good one.
leelord
Again LOL Good one!
ethan_hines
“Video of the party went viral last week” perhaps we should stop using the word Viral to indicate popularity?
stanhope
Girl is that all you have to say given the seriousness of what is shown here. I deem you an Ernie LOL never met a pretty or popular or smart ERNIE LOL
RFD
I agree with you and ignore those who are mean girl like bullies. They are why the word troll was invented.
stanhope
Well kids, are you shocked? Today’s gay men are not the same stock as those who were around during the AIDS crisis. These boys feel entitled and impervious. They are going to show off gymed up bodies and have grindr sex no matter what. There are Beckys, Karens, I deem these boys Kennys LMAO. The facemask is today’s condom.
Den
I take it you were not born yet when HIV first hit the gay community because you have a totally fictional view of what it was like.
There was no shortage of people who denied it was a communicable viral disease, who refused to wear condoms, who tried to talk others into having unprotected sex.
There were exactly the same kind of dullards in the gay community then as now. And exactly the same kind of prudent, responsible ones as well.
AxelDC
Dr. Fauci warns we may hit 100k new cases a day. It’s stupidity like this that we cannot contain the Pandemic.
MISTERJETT
come on, people!! it’s on the news every day. did you think you’d be immune? what did you think would happen? or do you just not care?
TJB
not surprised at all. We know guys that are turning at least 1 trick a day since COVID-isolation began in March. It isn’t just a bad flu bug! Almost as contagious as the measles. 10X more deadly than the flu. And if you survive, you may have serious, life-challenging organ damage that could render you disabled for life. people think they are invincible! SMH
[email protected]
Masks should have been wore,at least that way you still could perv over all those hot bodies. Covid 19 is a problem!!!!
RFD
exactly
MISTERJETT
better than that, stay away all together. masks aren’t going to help with all of that dripping sweat all over everything. your health is so much more important than “perv over all those hot bodies” – or it should be.
tomcat7
Well we have a straight bar here in columbus O that packs in the finished protesters every weekend. Nuts to butts, not a mask in site. Bottle service and twerking included. The rest of the community is standing 6ft. apart behind plexiglass
Den
Given the prevalence of masks on protesters seen in media reports, I seriously doubt your story.
NOBODY who is prudent enough to wear a mask at a protest, who understands the nature of disease transmission is going to then go to a bar and socialize without a mask indoors.
That is the kind of thing one expects the MAGA folks to do (and sees them do with great regularity).
masterwill7
I guess you mean the “anti corona measures” protestors?? If so, by all means, please let them go party and socialize in packed clubs and all drink out of eachother’s glasses..! We will soon be freed from those idiots. 😉
kelli
It’s because of selfish, stupid bar(and other business) owners that we may never see the end of this pandemic. To all you idiotic guys that attended, ??!! EVERY PERSON IN THE WORLD NEED TO DO THEIR PART TO COMBAT COVID-19. Apparently you don’t understand this???? You reap what you sow!
WSnyder
These idiots are the worst form of selfishness. Sure, being younger most won’t suffer the worst parts of the virus. Many will likely be asymptomatic, But many of their friends and families and then the friends and families of those people could suffer. That’s the danger that they refuse to acknowledge. IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT YOU. Most of these idiots rationalize ‘it’s my body and I’m OK with taking the risk’. They WON’T recognize that by going to these mass parties, you’re taking everyone you care about WITH YOU.
It’s like that moronic Trump Rally in Tulsa. Attendees had to agree to the waiver ‘Not to Sue’ Trump or the Campaign if they got the virus because there was an extreme risk. But did all of their families or friends agree to take that risk?
I got invited to a BBQ this month. I declined because I didn’t know everyone who was going to be there. I am however going to a 4th of July party with 6 friends. We’ve all been isolated. We’re taking precautions. We’ll be outside. We’ll be sitting apart. We’re minimizing the risks in every way. But we all agreed we’ll be back to isolation for a few weeks. We’ll act in a way to keep our families and other friends safe.
David Myers
Thank you for being responsible and serving as an excellent example . . . something the idiots there desperately need . . . but will they pay attention?
Mike8419
Well, it looks like that LGBTQ+ does have its own section of people who are just as stupid as those rednecks and Trump supporters thinking they can’t get sick. Even if they don’t get sick they can spread coronavirus to family and friends who could get sick and even die. Did we learn nothing from the AIDS epidemic?
RFD
Well some of us did. And some of the idiots you mention were not born then and would have been idiots then too.
tjack47
Dumbasses
dre23222
I always keep reminding myself that everyone don’t have common sense.
davidkit
I blame the bar owners more than the morons who patronized their business. Complete dickheads.
gaypalmsprings
That video looks like fun. It reminds me of watching 1970s porn during the height of the AIDS crisis.
ShiningSex
Even some gays are idiots.
If you don’t care about wearing a mask then you’re scum.
It’s NOT a right to NOT wear one. When there’s an order in place, YOU HAVE TO.
This whole “it’s my right not to” is total BS. Learn about facts and the law.
batesmotel
Masks reduce the chances of COVID, but doesn’t mean you still won’t get it if you get droplets on you. That’s why social distancing is even more important, which obviously wasn’t seen in the club with everyone bumping and grinding as if COVID was completely gone.
roddy
Come on guys….think with your brain not with your unit!
jack512
Heretic should lose it’s liquor license.
ScottOnEarth
Janet Jackon’s next album will be titled “Idiot Nation 2020,” in honor of the unbelievably stupid Americans who continue to exacerbate the spread of this pandemic.
mykelb
The owner of this club should get a Darwin Award.
tjr101
No wonder America is leading in infections and death, a significant portion of the population is greedy and blatantly ignorant. Gay or straight it doesn’t matter. I don’t blame the rest of the world for locking us out.
batesmotel
It’s not surprising and isn’t just this place. People have forgotten that just because a place is open, doesn’t mean all is well. They’re being nice enough to open hoping people will be smart enough to know to still keep your distance. But apparently the masses aren’t that bright as we continuously see.
Masks only reduce the chances of COVID, but you can still get it if droplets land anywhere else on your skin. That’s why they say social distancing is even more important than masks. People put on masks and keep thinking they’re safe and so they don’t bother social distancing.
Yooper
Hope at least a few got laid.
Tombear
And gay men are supposed to be the best educated of any demographic. What happened?