'Buddy, you need to shut down': Ford blasts Adamson BBQ owner for 'putting people's lives in jeopardy'

Premier Doug Ford criticized Adam Skelly of Adamson Barbecue in Etobicoke, the small business owner who has decided to ignore COVID-19 protocol in York and Toronto to the delight of dozens of patrons.

Ford highlighted that Ontario had the lowest number of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 in North America outside of the Atlantic Bubble and Canada's territories, but said that cases could spike if people chose to ignore the province's public health guidelines.

"Buddy, you need to shut down," said Ford. "You're putting people's lives in jeopardy. I always try to be nice the first time, but this guy is just totally ignoring public health officials."

Yesterday, Ford said that he understood that small business owners were frustrated, but did not directly condemn Skelly's actions.

"That's how this spreads. That's how we get out of hand, like the [United States] that are out of control right now. People are dying because of COVID-19, and [Skelly] just wants to say forget it and have everybody down there? It's absolutely irresponsible and ridiculous."

Ford said Skelly's defiance of the chief medical officer's provisions for the province were "unacceptable."

"I'm not gonna bend, I'm not gonna start opening up all the businesses. That'd be the most foolish, irresponsible decision anyone has ever made."

"You wanna see a serious crisis? It'd be a massive crisis if I stopped listening to doctor Williams, stopped listening to the health table, we'd be in deep trouble," Ford continued.

Adamson BBQ sees big second day of business

The Adamson Barbecue saw huge crowds again today, with many patrons showing support to Skelly's anti-lockdown cause.

Speaking to The Post Millennial, Skelly said “I will continue to act in noncompliance with these orders and see what kind of support we have today.” He added, “If anyone sees this as an inspiration to stand up and open their business, that’s amazing.”

Police on the scene said that those in attendance were in violation of the Toronto and Peel area's lockdown regulations, and were facing the "possibility of being charged."