Indian-American Covid Czar Jay Varma’s Reputation Shattered After Boasts of Hosting Secret Sex Party During Lockdown

Jay Varma, an Indian-American doctor who played a crucial role in guiding New York City through the Covid-19 pandemic, has seen his reputation plummet after boasting about hosting a sex party during the city’s lockdown. Varma, once hailed as the “Covid Czar,” became infamous after a video surfaced in which he bragged about attending a sex party with his wife while the city was under his guidance, enforcing strict lockdown measures.

The damning revelation came when Varma was secretly recorded by a woman working for a conservative podcaster. In the recording, Varma is heard discussing attending a sex party with his wife, also a doctor, at a hotel. He also mentioned being part of a 200-person underground party at a Wall Street bank building, all while the city was under his directives to socially distance and avoid large gatherings.

In the same video, Varma admitted to using an illegal psychedelic drug known as MDMA, commonly referred to as ecstasy. The use of this drug can lead to a prison sentence for those caught in possession of it. His admission of drug use, alongside the sex party revelations, has sparked widespread outrage among politicians and citizens alike, particularly after the videos were made public earlier this month by podcaster Steven Crowder.

This turn of events starkly contrasts Varma’s previous image as a public health leader. During the height of the pandemic, he regularly appeared on television alongside then-Mayor Bill de Blasio to offer updates on the pandemic and advise New Yorkers on measures to curb the virus’s spread. However, the recent scandal has cost him his post-pandemic role as the chief medical officer and executive vice president of a pharmaceutical company, from which he was recently fired.

The media, political figures, and activists have harshly criticized Varma for his actions. His downfall has been met with particular satisfaction by those who opposed the city’s Covid policies, especially the mandatory vaccination programs. These mandates faced opposition from both the far-right and the left, and Varma has now become a prime target for critics of the vaccine and mask mandates—similar to the way Dr. Anthony Fauci, the federal Covid czar, has been attacked by pandemic skeptics.

A group of about 100 city workers who lost their jobs for refusing to comply with the city’s vaccination mandate held a protest outside City Hall in response to the scandal. Inside, Republican councilwoman Joann Ariola accused Varma of perjury, claiming that his support for mandatory vaccinations, expressed in legal affidavits, was now in question.

While Varma has not denied the core facts presented in the video, he did release a statement attempting to explain his behavior. “I take responsibility for not using the best judgment at the time,” his statement read, implying that the footage was taken out of context and spliced together to misrepresent the situation. Nevertheless, the damage to his public image appears irreversible.

Steven Crowder, the conservative podcaster who released the video, was initially attempting to discredit Varma over his Covid policies, particularly those surrounding vaccine and mask mandates, as well as the decision to keep schools closed. However, the undercover reporter working for Crowder stumbled upon Varma’s shocking personal revelations, adding a whole new layer to the controversy.

In the video, Varma brazenly admits, “I did all this deviant, sexual stuff while I was on TV (as city health official) and people were like, ‘Aren’t you afraid? Aren’t you embarrassed?’ And I was like, no, I really like being my authentic self.” The footage captures Varma dropping various salacious details, such as, “Sometimes it isn’t so much about, like, penetrative sexual stuff,” and “being naked with friends.”

Varma had once been considered a hero of the pandemic. In April 2020, when New York City was struggling to cope with the virus, Varma, an epidemiologist with an international reputation, was brought in to assist. A graduate of Harvard University, he had previously worked for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and had built a solid reputation as an expert in managing epidemics worldwide. Varma had been posted to various global hotspots, including China, Thailand, and Ethiopia, which added to his credibility during the crisis.

Alongside another Indian-American doctor, Dave Chokshi, who was appointed the city’s health commissioner, Varma was credited with helping the city navigate the pandemic. The two were seen as essential figures in New York’s response after the previous health commissioner was fired. Notably, Chokshi has remained unscathed by any scandal, and his successor, another Indian-American, Ashwin Vasan, has also avoided any controversy. Vasan recently announced his resignation, although his departure appears to be unrelated to Varma’s scandal or any other significant issue.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, 6.7 million New Yorkers have contracted Covid-19, and the virus has claimed the lives of 77,423 residents. Despite the enormous toll of the pandemic, the scandal surrounding Varma has shifted the focus from his work as a public health official to his questionable personal behavior.

It is worth noting that while the mainstream U.S. media typically refrains from using secret recordings, they are frequently employed by activist journalists, even against the mainstream media itself. In cases like Varma’s, a common tactic is for an undercover reporter to gain the target’s trust by playing to their ego, as happened with Varma.

Varma’s situation has drawn comparisons to other high-profile figures who have been caught flouting their own pandemic restrictions. For instance, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson faced backlash after it was revealed he attended a birthday party at his official residence during the lockdown. Similarly, California Governor Gavin Newsom was criticized for attending a dinner party at a high-end restaurant while urging residents to follow strict lockdown rules.

The scandal surrounding Varma highlights the risks public figures face when their private actions contradict the very policies they champion. While Varma’s medical expertise helped guide New York City through one of its darkest periods, his personal choices have led to a dramatic fall from grace, leaving his once-stellar reputation in tatters.