On July 21, 2020, [[Nikita Dragun]] held a surprise birthday party for Ethan dolanMerritt during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Williams|first=Janice|date=July 28, 2020|title=Influencers Face Backlash After Attending Party for TikTok Star Larray As Coronavirus Surges. Newsweek.|url=https://www.newsweek.com/coronavirus-social-media-influencers-party-1521043|access-date=August 26, 2020|website=[[Newsweek]]}}</ref> The party included [[Social media personality|social media personalities]] such as [[James Charles (Internet personality)|James Charles]], [[Charli D'Amelio]], [[Dixie D'Amelio]], and others.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Lustig|first=Hanna|title=Dozens of top influencers gathered for a massive Hype House birthday party despite record COVID-19 numbers in California|url=https://www.insider.com/party-hype-house-larray-birthday-la-james-charles-tana-influencer-2020-7|access-date=2020-08-26|website=Insider}}</ref> At the time of the party, [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|California's COVID-19 cases]] had just surpassed [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|New York's cases]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=McGreevy|first=Patrick|date=July 22, 2020|title=California to obtain more mask &/or gear as it becomes state with most COVID-19 cases|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-07-22/coronavirus-cases-rise-newsom-ppe-masks-gear|access-date=2020-11-30|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|language=en-US}}</ref> There was an estimated 67 people in attendance,<ref name=":2" /> many of whom were seen [[Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States#Attitudes|without face masks]]<ref name=":1" /> despite local health recommendations.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lloyd|first=Jonathan|date=June 19, 2020|title=If You Have Questions About California's Face Mask Rules, This List Has Them Covered|url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/coronavirus/california-face-masks-requirement-rules-exemptions-coronavirus-covid-19-reopening-pandemic/2382783/|access-date=2020-11-30|website=NBC Los Angeles|language=en-US}}</ref> Photos and videos of the event appeared on social media sites such as [[Instagram]]. These posts drew criticism from the public, including other influencers like [[Elijah Daniel]] and [[Tyler Oakley]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Henry|first=Ben|date=July 23, 2020|title=Tyler Oakley Called Out James Charles, Charli D'Amelio And More For Attending An "Insane Surprise Party" During Lockdown|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/benhenry/tyler-oakley-james-charles-charli-damelio-larray-birthday|access-date=2020-08-26|website=[[BuzzFeed News]]|language=en}}</ref> Merritt, and some of the other attendees, later apologized.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Tenbarge|first=Kat|date=2020-07-27|title=Party-goers were subjected to strong online backlash, but that hasn't stopped them from continuing to go out|url=https://www.insider.com/la-influencers-coronavirus-party-jake-paul-youtube-tiktok-nikita-tana-2020-7|access-date=2020-08-26|website=Insider|language=en-US}}</ref> Residents of the Hype House later tested negative for [[Coronavirus disease 2019|COVID-19]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Roantree|first=Megab|date=August 4, 2020|title=Nikita Dragun Got The Hype House Tested For Coronavirus|url=https://www.kiss.ie/nikita-dragun-got-the-hype-house-tested-for-coronavirus/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009225155/https://www.kiss.ie/nikita-dragun-got-the-hype-house-tested-for-coronavirus/|archive-date=October 9, 2020|access-date=2020-08-26|website=Kiss|language=en-GB|url-status=dead}}</ref>
