A Washington DC socialite has reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 after hosting a lavish backyard soiree last month in violation of the capital’s coronavirus lockdown orders, a new report has revealed.
Ashley Taylor Bronczek decided to throw the party on June 18 after an incredibly successful online fundraiser for the Washington Ballet, of which she co-chaired and helped raised $800,000 for, the Washington Post reported.
To celebrate the occasion, the 37-year-old hosted a catered dinner for a couple dozen friends in the backyard of her sprawling Spring Valley home, for a ‘summer chic’ themed evening complete with glitz, glamour – and a blatant disregard for social distancing orders.
The private party, of which the Washington Ballet said it was aware but not affiliated with, was in violation of DC’s Phase 1 guidelines restricting gatherings to groups of ten or fewer.
In what has since been dubbed a cautionary tale, Bronczek and a number of her guests have tested positive for coronavirus in the days since.
Pictures of the gathering which had once been so proudly displayed on Bronczek’s Instagram page have since been removed at the behest of some attendees.
Ashley Taylor Bronczek decided to throw the party on June 18 after an incredibly successful online fundraiser for the Washington Ballet, of which she co-chaired and helped raised $800,000 for
The 37-year-old hosted a catered dinner for a couple dozen friends in the backyard of her sprawling Spring Valley home (above), for a ‘summer chic’ themed evening complete with glitz, glamour – and a blatant disregard for social distancing orders
The event was held as a viewing party for the Washington Ballet’s 75th anniversary gala, which had originally been scheduled as a black tie dinner in May, but was cancelled as the coronavirus pandemic began ravaging across the country.
The gala was then moved to June in a virtual capacity, streamed live in an hour-long event with pre-taped dance routines, speeches and a three-course dinner delivered to the home of every guest.
All of the performers involved had to follow CDC and DC Department of Health guidelines in order to partake. Such measures included married dancers sheltering in place together, and choreographing dances with social distancing in mind, the Post reported.
But, Bronczek, seemingly eager to experience a sense of normalcy, invited a number of friends to an in-person viewing party and dinner on the night of the gala.
Though it’s reported that two dozen attended, the crowd may have been even larger had a several not declined the invitation, citing ‘common sense’.
‘It’s just common sense,’ an invitee, speaking on the grounds of anonymity, told the Post. ‘We’re in the middle of a pandemic.’
Within hours of the dinner, Bronczek began exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 and was diagnosed with the virus shortly after.
The event was held as a viewing party for the Washington Ballet’s 75th anniversary gala, which had originally been scheduled as a black tie dinner in May, but was cancelled as the coronavirus pandemic began ravaging across the country
The evening started with guests watching Bronczek and co-chair Sara Lange thank sponsors of the event during the broadcast.
Billed as a ‘summer chic’ event, female guests wore cocktail dresses and their male counterparts wore jackets with no ties. They mingled near the pool with cocktails while a TV screen broadcast the gala live in the backyard.
Photographer Tony Powell, who was hired to photograph the soiree, said he and the wait staff were the only people wearing masks throughout the evening.
He did however call the event ‘well intentioned’, insisting there was a lot of space between people. ‘They were not as close as they normally are,’ Powell insisted.
Guests were sat at large round tables with eight to ten place settings on each. Powell said Bronczek was ‘radiant’ throughout the event.
‘She was so excited,’ he recalled to the Post.
But unbeknownst to the hostess at the time, an uninvited guest had infiltrated the party.
Billed as a ‘summer chic’ event, female guests wore cocktail dresses and their male counterparts wore jackets with no ties. They mingled near the pool with cocktails while a TV screen broadcast the gala live in the backyard
Within hours of the dinner, Bronczek began exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 and was diagnosed with the virus shortly after.
Other guests who were sat at the hostess’ table are also said to have tested positive but they declined to comment or screened calls when contacted by the Post.
News spread quickly of Bronczek’s diagnosis among her social circle. The 37-year-old was said slow to share her positive result to her friend through fear of social fallout.
She eventually texted out the news, with family and friends rushing to get tested.
‘Everyone’s angry,’ a source told the Post of Bronczek’s reluctance to announce she had the virus. ‘Everyone’s trying to figure out who has it.’
It remains unclear how or when Bronczek contracted the virus and whom she may have passed it on to.
Bronczek has cemented herself among DC’s A-list since making the move to the country’s capital in 2005.
The granddaughter of former LBJ adviser Lloyd Hand and jewelry designer Ann Hand, she married Matt Bronczek, son to the former president of FedEx, in 2012 and the couple have three small children together.
Ashley married Matt Bronczek (right), son to the former president of FedEx, in 2012 and the couple have three small children together
News spread quickly of Bronczek’s diagnosis among her social circle. The 37-year-old was said slow to share her positive result to her friend through fear of social fallout
Bronczek is the granddaughter of former LBJ adviser Lloyd Hand and jewelry designer Ann Hand (above)
The Washington Ballet said it was aware of Bronczek’s gathering but felt it had little authority to intervene.
A spokesperson told the Post the party was private, on private property and no one from the ballet attended or was scheduled to perform.
The outlet theorized that the ballet may have also had their hands-tied considering Bronczek’s in-laws were one of the biggest donors to the fundraiser, donating $75,000.
RJ Whyte Event Production, which coordinated the virtual gala, was not involved in Bronczek’s dinner, the company said.
The wait staff, hired from Occasions, which catered both the gala and Bronczek’s party have reportedly been forced to quarantine for two weeks and are unable to work.
Photos of the party have since been removed from Bronczek’s Instagram, and Powell told the Post guests have asked him to take down his photos of the event as well.