Governor Newsom's 12-Person French Laundry Dinner Draws Renewed Scrutiny

Piers Morgan has reignited criticism of California Governor Gavin Newsom over a controversial dinner party attended during the height of COVID-19 restrictions in 2020. Morgan took to social media to directly challenge the Governor, stating, "You broke your own covid rules to attend a big dinner party at one of America’s fanciest restaurants during the pandemic, as millions of Californians were suffering. You didn’t give a damn about them." The tweet brings back into focus an incident that drew significant public backlash.

The event in question occurred on November 6, 2020, when Governor Newsom and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, attended a birthday dinner for lobbyist Jason Kinney. The gathering took place at The French Laundry, a Michelin-starred restaurant located in Yountville, Napa County, California. Reports indicated that the dinner included at least 12 individuals from multiple households, held indoors.

At the time of the dinner, California state health officials were actively urging residents to avoid non-essential travel and large gatherings. The state's own guidelines for restaurants limited indoor dining capacity and strongly encouraged outdoor dining to mitigate the spread of the virus. The Governor's attendance at the indoor gathering was perceived by many as a direct contradiction to the public health directives he was advocating for Californians.

The incident quickly led to widespread accusations of hypocrisy and a significant public outcry, contributing to a recall effort against Governor Newsom. Following the controversy, Newsom issued an apology, acknowledging his mistake and stating that he should have "modeled better behavior." The renewed criticism from Piers Morgan underscores the lasting impact of the event on public perception and political discourse surrounding leadership accountability during crises.