The US debate on whether to wear a mask amid the pandemic has been skewered, Hamilton style.
In a fun YouTube video that was uploaded on Tuesday, June 30, by US comedy troupe The Holderness Family, Penn Holderness plays two characters from the opposing sides of the argument.
With a musical medley of Hamilton tracks, including the hip-hop inspired Aaron Burr, Sir, the stadium rock style of My Shot, and the piano balladry of You'll Be Back, the home-recorded video is essentially a two-way conversation, with the camera cutting between two Penns as they lay down their respective arguments.
For pro-mask Penn, the reason to don the facial protection is to protect fellow citizens.
"You say, the price of this mask is a price you are not willing to pay." he says. "(The virus) has come back, actually it has never left and it’s leaving us all bereft."
Meanwhile, anti-mask Penn is spouting conspiracy theories on how the face mask is part of a grander plan for human subjugation.
Since its release, the video has amassed over 400,000 views and has been featured in leading entertainment publications such as Billboard Magazine and broadcast across the US on National Public Radio.
YouTube Stars
This is not the first time The Holderness Family have hit the mark when it comes to YouTube parodies.
With more than 500,000 subscribed to their eight-year-old channel, they have released more than a 100 videos, on everything from hand-washing amid the pandemic to hits by pop stars Billie Eilish (Bad Guy) and Rihanna (Work). Here's a sample of their colourful work:
They sing favourite sitcom themes with new quarantine inspired lyrics
A cooking video to the tune of Meghan Trainor's All About That Bass
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UAE group fixtures (all in St Kitts)
Saturday 15 January: v Canada
Thursday 20 January: v England
Saturday 22 January: v Bangladesh
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Top New Zealand cop on policing the virtual world
New Zealand police began closer scrutiny of social media and online communities after the attacks on two mosques in March, the country's top officer said.
The killing of 51 people in Christchurch and wounding of more than 40 others shocked the world. Brenton Tarrant, a suspected white supremacist, was accused of the killings. His trial is ongoing and he denies the charges.
Mike Bush, commissioner of New Zealand Police, said officers looked closely at how they monitored social media in the wake of the tragedy to see if lessons could be learned.
“We decided that it was fit for purpose but we need to deepen it in terms of community relationships, extending them not only with the traditional community but the virtual one as well," he told The National.
"We want to get ahead of attacks like we suffered in New Zealand so we have to challenge ourselves to be better."
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Founders: Omar and Humaid Alzaabi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech
# of staff: 10
Funding to date: Self-funded
