Celebrity Preparedness: Ashley Benson, Cara Delevingne & Kaia Gerber’s Essential Grocery Run Amidst Early Pandemic Fears

In the nascent days of the global COVID-19 pandemic, as uncertainty loomed and daily life began its dramatic shift, even the brightest stars of Hollywood found themselves navigating the same challenges as the rest of the world. On Sunday, March 15, 2020, a notable trio – actress Ashley Benson and supermodels Cara Delevingne and Kaia Gerber – made a high-profile trip to Erewhon, the upscale organic grocery store in West Hollywood. This seemingly mundane errand became a significant snapshot of the times, capturing a moment of collective anxiety and proactive preparation. They were joined by actor Tommy Dorfman, making it a group effort to stock up on vital necessities as the call for self-quarantine grew louder across California and the nation.

The sight of these celebrities engaging in a routine task like grocery shopping underscored the universal impact of the unfolding health crisis. Erewhon, known for its premium products and celebrity clientele, became a temporary stage for a glimpse into how even A-listers were adapting. The outing wasn’t just about provisions; it was a visible demonstration of the public’s emerging awareness and varied approaches to safety measures, just as health officials intensified their warnings.

Navigating New Norms: Precautions and Public Health Advice

The group’s appearance at Erewhon offered a telling visual of the early days of pandemic precautions. Dressed in decidedly casual attire, a stark contrast to their usual red carpet glamour, they pushed carts laden with the iconic brown paper bags of groceries. What truly caught observers’ attention were the visible efforts some of them made towards personal protection. Both Ashley Benson and Kaia Gerber were seen wearing clear protective gloves, a nascent but rapidly adopted practice reflecting the CDC’s evolving advice on minimizing contact with surfaces. Kaia Gerber was also photographed clutching a container of Clorox wipes, a commodity that would soon become scarce on store shelves nationwide, symbolizing the widespread scramble for sanitization products.

Amidst these precautions, there was also a stark reminder of the learning curve everyone faced. Cara Delevingne, for instance, was pictured touching her face with her bare hands. At the time, health authorities worldwide, including the CDC, were vehemently advising against this exact action, emphasizing how easily the novel coronavirus could be transmitted from contaminated surfaces to mucous membranes. This detail highlighted the individual challenges of adhering to unprecedented public health guidelines, even for those in the public eye. The images served as a poignant illustration of a society grappling with new norms and the urgent need for heightened personal hygiene and awareness.

California’s Swift Response: Governor Newsom’s Directives

This celebrity grocery run occurred just one day before California Governor Gavin Newsom implemented a series of stringent guidelines designed to curb the escalating spread of the coronavirus across the Golden State. On March 15, the very day of the stars’ shopping trip, Newsom utilized his platform to issue critical directives via Twitter, signaling a dramatic shift in public life. His message was unequivocal: “Those that are 65 and older or vulnerable to #COVIDー19 must practice home isolation. Bars, night clubs, wineries, and breweries should close in CA. Restaurants — focus on takeout for those isolating. Maximize social distancing.”

These pronouncements weren’t mere suggestions; they were a clear mandate for immediate, widespread behavioral changes. The advisement for vulnerable populations to self-isolate at home underscored the severity of the virus, particularly for older adults and those with underlying health conditions. The forced closure of entertainment venues like bars, nightclubs, wineries, and breweries was a direct blow to California’s vibrant social scene and economy, but deemed necessary to prevent large gatherings where the virus could rapidly propagate. Restaurants were urged to pivot dramatically, focusing solely on takeout and delivery services, a model that would reshape the entire food industry. Newsom’s call to “Maximize social distancing” became the mantra for public interaction, profoundly altering how people moved, worked, and socialized. This rapid implementation of restrictions highlighted the urgent and evolving nature of the pandemic response, making the celebrities’ earlier shopping trip a prescient act of preparation for the imminent lockdown.

Beyond these immediate closures, the Governor’s announcement was swiftly followed by widespread school district shutdowns across more than half of California. This decision had monumental implications for families, working parents, and the educational system, forcing a rapid transition to remote learning and childcare solutions. The combined effect of these measures was designed to flatten the curve of infection, a public health strategy aimed at slowing the rate of COVID-19 transmission to prevent healthcare systems from becoming overwhelmed. The atmosphere in California, and indeed much of the world, was one of unprecedented change and anxiety, as communities braced for an uncertain future.

(L-R) Ashley Benson, Cara Delevingne and Kaia Gerber out shopping at Erewhon in West Hollywood on Sunday, March 15, 2020. (Photo credit: NGRE / BACKGRID)

Kaia Gerber out shopping in a black, white and red letterman jacket at Erewhon in West Hollywood on Sunday, March 15, 2020. (Photo credit: NGRE / BACKGRID)

Hollywood’s Voice: Celebrities and the Pandemic Dialogue

The actions of Ashley Benson, Cara Delevingne, and Kaia Gerber were but a small part of a much larger narrative unfolding across Hollywood and beyond. Celebrities, with their immense platforms, quickly became crucial figures in the global conversation surrounding COVID-19. Their social media channels, usually reserved for career updates and lifestyle insights, transformed into vital conduits for public health messaging, personal anecdotes, and calls for collective action.

Perhaps no celebrity announcement resonated more profoundly in the early stages of the pandemic than that of Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson. On March 11, just days before the West Hollywood grocery run, Hanks revealed that both he and Wilson had tested positive for coronavirus while filming a movie in Australia. Their diagnosis sent shockwaves around the world, making the abstract threat of the virus terrifyingly real and demonstrating that it could affect anyone, regardless of status. Hanks and Wilson became pioneers in transparently sharing their journey, offering frequent, reassuring updates from isolation in Australia. Their candidness helped demystify the illness and encouraged others to take it seriously, providing a human face to the burgeoning crisis.

Beyond personal diagnoses, many other celebrities stepped up to use their influence for public good. Some, like actress Blake Lively and actor Ryan Reynolds, made significant philanthropic donations to food banks and frontline workers, inspiring fans to contribute if they could. Others transformed their homes into virtual stages, hosting online concerts, storytelling sessions, and workout classes to entertain and connect with audiences confined to their homes. Figures like Lady Gaga rallied support for healthcare workers, while talk show hosts like Ellen DeGeneres and Jimmy Fallon innovated by producing their shows from home, providing a sense of normalcy and continuity during a period of intense disruption.

The role of celebrities during the pandemic evolved considerably. Initially, there were instances of mixed messaging or perceived insensitivity, particularly from those who appeared to downplay the severity or whose privileged circumstances seemed out of touch. However, as the crisis deepened, the majority embraced their responsibility, sharing accurate information, promoting social distancing and hygiene, and advocating for public health. They participated in public service announcements, encouraged mask-wearing (as guidelines evolved), and shared their personal struggles and triumphs in isolation, fostering a sense of shared experience.

A Glimpse into the ‘New Normal’

The grocery shopping trip of Ashley Benson, Cara Delevingne, and Kaia Gerber stands as a vivid timestamp from a period of intense global upheaval. It captured the cautious optimism, the underlying anxiety, and the nascent adaptations that characterized the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their actions, from the gloves and wipes to the group effort, mirrored the widespread attempts by individuals and families everywhere to prepare for an uncertain future.

The pandemic irrevocably altered societal norms, public interactions, and even celebrity culture. The initial period of panic buying and the subsequent lockdowns paved the way for a ‘new normal’ that emphasized hygiene, remote interaction, and a heightened awareness of public health. This seemingly simple shopping trip serves as a reminder of how quickly life can change and how, even amidst global crisis, humanity’s fundamental needs – and the quest to fulfill them safely – remain constant. It’s a testament to a moment when even the most glamorous among us faced the same stark realities, preparing for a world that was rapidly transforming before our very eyes.