Denver Mayor Michael Hancock asked people to avoid traveling for Thanksgiving. And then hopped a flight to Mississippi to spend the holiday with his wife and daughter.

The hypocrisy — first reported by 9News — amounts to an unforced error on the mayor’s part and one that risks delegitimizing pleas from public health officials to try to stop the spread of the surging coronavirus, experts and officials agree.

Hancock later issued an apology: “I recognize that my decision has disappointed many who believe it would have been better to spend Thanksgiving alone. As a public official, whose conduct is rightly scrutinized for the message it sends to others, I apologize to the residents of Denver who see my decision as conflicting with the guidance to stay at home for all but essential travel,” Hancock said in a statement. “I made my decision as a husband and father, and for those who are angry and disappointed, I humbly ask you to forgive decisions that are borne of my heart and not my head.”

But in 2020’s court of public opinion, it only made things worse. Twitter already had its say.

This is the last time Denver needs to hear public health guidance from Mayor Hancock. If the city has a leader who actually follows the advice they give the public, we’ll put them on instead. https://t.co/tTLcFgkZdK

— Kyle Clark (@KyleClark) November 25, 2020

Our Mayor has abandoned his city during one of the most critical times we needed leadership the most.

Do NOT be afraid we will rise together as a city and defeat this virus.

We will support our frontline workers!

We will wear masks!

Our city doesn’t hinge on one person alone!

— Tay Anderson (@TayAndersonCO) November 25, 2020

Shame on you, Mayor Hancock. It’s because of idiotic decisions like this and the hypocrisy of it that no one takes the pandemic seriously. I understand you want to be w/ your family, but so does everyone else. #RulesForTheeButNotForMe

— ミスタ　スパークル (@COfishbulb82) November 26, 2020

May @MayorHancock’s turkey be tough, his greens be crunchy with grit, and his sweet potato pie rife with strings.

— Stacey Abrams Stan Account (@World_Of_Hurt) November 25, 2020

Another do as I say not as I do politician apologizes for their hypocrisy.

In this case, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock who repeatedly urged Denverites not to travel for Thanksgiving but was caught flying off to Mississippi to see his wife and daughter. pic.twitter.com/6gsk4WXEjk

— Yashar Ali (@yashar) November 26, 2020

WAIT. I KNOW the mayor is NOT in Houston for Thanksgiving after lecturing all of us about avoiding travel to slow the spread lol. Get ya manssss

— La Pistola (@theperfectRu) November 25, 2020

When Denver Mayor Michael Hancock goes against his own orders, Denver residents need to stop taking orders from Mayor Hancock. https://t.co/vGmUlvfbGZ

— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) November 25, 2020

Home alone, Grow up Hancock!! pic.twitter.com/jiebja2M36

— Kelly Kitts (@kellybuffs) November 26, 2020

I’ve pointed out other instances of hypocrisy like this before, to make a key #CrisisCommunications point: government leaders who fail to abide by their own rules risk losing all credibility for future crisis messages.

This is leadership malpractice. https://t.co/6D5bSGaLzJ

— Mark R. Weaver (@MarkRWeaver) November 26, 2020

Perhaps you could have had an honest conversation with the citizens of Denver a week ago. Instead of a tweet on holiday eve; after your flight; and after media reports. Way too much of CYA.

Tracy and I will be spending the holiday alone…at home…as our elected leaders urged.

— Eric Sondermann (@ericsondermann) November 26, 2020

.@KyleClark Michael Hancock is Chris Christie with his family on the beach he closed to the public. #HeyNext https://t.co/IzzgFShXGG

— Jamison Young (@JamisonCYoung) November 26, 2020

Denver mayor: This Denver school board is dysfunctional. I need to write a letter about it.

Also Denver mayor: Let me tweet that Denver residents need to stay home and not travel WHILE I’M AT THE AIRPORT. https://t.co/rLglSgaIYm

— Robert Sanchez (@MileHighRobert) November 25, 2020

Read the full story here.