Teyana Taylor faced some mild criticism this week after photos of her album listening party were posted online. The private event went down Wednesday night in Beverly Hills where stars like Cardi B, Odell Beckham, and Winnie Harlow gathered to celebrate the release of Taylor's The Album.
"I want to thank all my family and close friends for coming out to my private album release listening," Teyana wrote on Instagram, sharing a series of photos taken during the party. "It was so much love and positive energy, I am forever so appreciative."
So, what exactly was the controversy? As seen below, the photos taken during the event showed most attendees without face masks, which experts say is one of the best tools to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Taylor, who is currently pregnant with her second daughter, went on to address the apparent lack of masks: "... For all the internet covid experts 🙄😜we had REAL Covid Police & medics that made sure we were all safe and able to have a good time all while following covid regulations," she wrote. "Custom '#TheAlbum' Masks and hazmat suits were also provided!"
Taylor shed more light on the situation during a video interview with Angie Martinez, doubling down on her claims that she and her team took extra steps to ensure guests' safety.
"So this is what I knew was kind of gonna happen," she told Martinez (7:09). "If you notice, we all had yellow suits. They were custom HAZMAT suits ... custom masks, everything ... It was hot. You know, as a pregnant woman, I can't breathe in them things. You got to realize, if everybody got on masks, the photographers can't get what they want ... So the moment n***as take their masks off for five minutes, it's flash, flash, flash, flash ... So now it's just looking like we don't even have 'em on ... as soon as we put them back on, now all the cameras is ghosts, 'cause it does nothing for the lenses."
Taylor went on to say it was a 60-person party in a 15,000-feet house with a lot of activity taking place outside. She also said there were "COVID prevention people" at the event.
"Pretty much the 'COVID police' ... You could not even walk in the house without putting on your HAZMAT suit and your mask," Taylor said. "... We were extremely safe."
You can check out her full interview above.
Taylor's The Album arrived Friday, nearly two years after she released K.T.S.E. The 23-track project featured appearances by Rick Ross, Future, Missy Elliott, Quavo, Big Sean, Kehlani, and more.
