Sound Check14 California lifeguards fired after posting video cover of PSY’s “Gangnam Style”
After posting a video clip re-enacting Korean pop star PSY's viral hit "Gangnam Style" on YouTube, 14 lifeguards were let go from their positions at the El Monte Aquatic Center in California.
According to KTLA, the former employees say that the clip, which has reached over 530,000 views, was filmed during their lunch break while the facility was empty and with the intent of capturing the end of summer.
See more: 60-year-old mom dances to 'Gangnam Style'
"The video was made just to have fun memories before we go back to college," Juliet Gilek, one of the lifeguards in the clip who was let go, said. "We didn't think it would offend anyone. They fired us for wearing our uniforms and using the public facility for private use. We were just wasting our own time while waiting for our next shift to start."
Explaining the grounds for dismissal, an El Monte city spokesman, Robert Alaniz, issued a statement that read:
"While the City of El Monte cannot comment on the specifics of this situation because it involves personnel issues, we can say that each of the employees dismissed were either part-time and/or seasonal at-will employees, who upon their employment, were each required to acknowledge and sign an Acknowledgement that states that they would 'under no circumstances use any city property for his/her own private use or benefit. Such unauthorized use shall be cause for disciplinary action.'"
He also said, "There was a clear unauthorized use of city resources and property, including the use of city issued uniforms during the making of this unauthorized video. The City maintains that it holds all employees to a higher standard."
See more: Nine things you should know about 'Gangnam Style'
Many of the lifeguards that participated in the making of the clip have worked at the facility between four and seven years and rely on their income to help pay for tuition and other academic needs.
"To be blunt, this was my only job and my only source of income in terms of paying for books and contributing to my schooling," Michael Roa, another lifeguard who lost his job, said. "So as of right now I guess I'll be back on the job hunt and I don't even know if I'm going to get any good recommendations now with this going on."
In an attempt to restore their employment, the lifeguards have started a petition and Facebook page titled "Bring back the 14 El Monte Lifeguards" in addition to their plan of presenting their cause at the next city council meeting.
It's worth mentioning that this isn't the first lifeguard staff to post a video online of an in-facility performance.
See more: Nelly Furtado performs 'Gangnam Style'
Simply doing an online search for the term "Lifeguard Style" gives multiple results of various staffs having fun and singing along to a catchy track in their pool like the one featured below that was filmed in Asheboro, North Carolina, to Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" in early August.
Do you think that the El Monte lifeguards were rightfully terminated? Let us know in the comments below!
