Beaumont Mayor Apologizes for Violating Her Own Stay-at-home Order After Visiting Nail Salon

BEAUMONT, TX – The Beaumont Mayor, Becky Armes, was forced apologize after she visited a closed nail salon to soak powdered nails in a solution to remove them. Pictures showing the mayor soaking her nails with the salon’s owner began circulating on social media.

According to KTXS, the mayor told local media she was not getting her nails done but was "soaking them in acetone to remove the powdered nails to avoid infection."

The salon owner told reporters, "Mayor Ames wasn't getting her nails done. She was soaking them in acetone to remove artificial, powdered nails so they wouldn't get infected."

According to the mayor, she soaked her nails on the afternoon before the council’s virtual meeting.

"I soaked them myself. She never touched me. The business is closed. She was going to place the solution of acetone at the back door and I was going to take it with me to remove the artificial, powdered nails. I had them put on several weeks ago and they hurt. I was trying to get them off and I texted my nail lady. She said the only way to get them off is with a solution. You have to do it a special way. She told me she'd put the solution at the back door of the salon,” explained Mayor Ames.

“The salon was closed. There was no air and it was hot. I went in and she was standing with a mask six feet away. She said 'I'll show you what to do.' I soaked my nails maybe for five minutes or less and left. I never had my nails done. No one else was in the salon. I did nothing wrong. I didn't even expect to go inside. She said 'put your fingers in the solution and I'll show you what to do.' Then she told me to take it with me. This was today."

Hair and nail salons have been closed for weeks in compliance with the Governor’s order. In her apology, the Mayor called her decision a lapse in judgment. She also provided pictures that she stated showed she did not have her nails done. The initial pictures that circulated on social media showed the mayor soaking her nails.

"My heartfelt apology to all of the citizens of Beaumont for my lapse in judgment on Tuesday, April 21. I promise that there was no malice intended. I should never have entered the salon last Tuesday. I did not intend to take personal privilege while asking others to sacrifice and for that, I am truly remorseful. As an elected official I am held to a higher standard. I regret my action that day. I am honestly sorry and I pray that you will forgive me. In addition, I have asked the City Attorney to place me on executive session this Tuesday so I can discuss this issue with my fellow Councilmembers.”