Governor Newsom's French Laundry Dinner Continues to Spark Criticism Years Later

A recent social media post from "Lee" on November 26, 2025, reignited public discourse surrounding California Governor Gavin Newsom's controversial dinner at The French Laundry restaurant in November 2020. The tweet, stating, "> Meanwhile he's partying like it's 1999 at French Laundry with all his unmasked donors! 🙄🤮," highlights the enduring public scrutiny of the event. This incident, which occurred during a period of strict statewide COVID-19 restrictions, remains a significant point of contention for critics of the Governor.

The dinner took place on November 6, 2020, at the Michelin-starred French Laundry in Yountville, Napa County. Governor Newsom, along with his wife Jennifer Siebel Newsom, attended a 50th birthday celebration for political lobbyist Jason Kinney. Photos later emerged showing approximately 12 individuals, including executives from the California Medical Association, seated closely together and unmasked in what was described as a semi-enclosed private dining area.

At the time, California's Department of Public Health guidance, updated on November 13, 2020, strongly discouraged gatherings and explicitly prohibited private gatherings of more than three households. The guidelines also emphasized outdoor settings, physical distancing, and mask-wearing. Critics swiftly pointed out the hypocrisy of the Governor's actions, given his consistent public appeals for Californians to adhere to stringent public health measures, including avoiding multi-household gatherings and wearing masks.

Following public outcry and the release of the photos, Governor Newsom issued an apology, acknowledging his error. "I made a bad mistake," Newsom stated, adding, "The spirit of what I’m preaching all the time was contradicted, and I’ve got to own that. And so I want to apologize to you, because I need to preach and practice, not just preach and not practice." Despite his apology, the incident fueled a recall effort against him and has periodically resurfaced in political commentary, demonstrating its lasting impact on his public image.