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Though I am not a mask-shamer and am definitely not someone who who will join an outrage mob in marching someone out of a grocery store for not wearing one, I usually wear one when I go out to the store and have encouraged family and friends to do so as well.

So I can appreciate it when someone tries to come up with creative ways to inspire people to don a mask during their errand runnings and what-nots.

But that appreciation only goes so far when that someone is Geraldo Rivera, who apparently had some masks made to look like his signature mustache. Except the mustache mask is quite a bit of an exaggerated version of the real one, which makes Rivera look like a creepy clown/bank robber/bandit when he’s wearing it.

Rivera, a sometimes-supporter/defender of President Trump and who is an occasional Fox News commentator and host, recently posted a photo and video of himself wearing the mask in an effort to get others to do so as well.

In the video he posted, Rivera talked about how it was understandable why Trump wouldn’t wear a mask considering he and others around him are routinely tested, but then stated in so many words that Trump should “lead by example” and wear one because it’s “symbolic” and “helpful.”

But quite frankly I’m not sure how many people actually stopped to watch the video of Rivera’s message after seeing the image of him in the mask which was quite … startling:

Looks familiar pic.twitter.com/tAVpqOKwwW

— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) May 25, 2020

As a practical matter, whether @realDonaldTrump wears a mask is not a medical issue. In the bubble in which he lives, he is no more or less likely to contract the disease. But by defiantly refusing to wear a mask in public, he sends a message that those of us who do are fools. https://t.co/wk11E90V0r

— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) May 26, 2020

Even freaks me out. Listen ⁦@wtam1100⁩ & #Roadkill the podcast pic.twitter.com/xafgyU3mYj

— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) May 26, 2020

This is one of those situations, I think, where someone who tried to do something good ended up doing something that accidentally negated the message he was trying to send.

Thoughts?

(Hat tip: Twitchy)