Ricky Schroder apologizes to Costco supervisor he berated for trying to enforce face mask policy

Ricky Schroder apologized to the Costco employee he berated over the weekend for trying to enforce the store’s face mask policy in a bizarre seven minute long rant on Instagram Sunday.

The 51-year-old addressed the employee, Jason, directly saying that he was ‘was trying to make a point to the corporate overlords’ and was ‘sorry that I had to use you to do it.’

The Silver Spoons actor was denied entry into a California Costco over the weekend because he wasn’t wearing a mask and proceeded to film himself furiously yelling at the supervisor who was trying to enforce the rules.

‘Jason, nothing personal. I’m not upset with you or anybody in the position like you have, who works for a living,’ Schroder said in his rant. 

‘I understand you were following your laws and rules,’ he continued. ‘I was trying to make a point to the corporate overlords and I’m sorry that I had to use you to do it. And if I hurt your feelings, I apologize.’ 

Despite the apology to Jason the Costco worker, Schroder didn’t back down on his stance against what he called ‘medical tyranny.’  

‘I want us all to go back to the way it was,’ he said. ‘I don’t want this COVID reality they want, these COVID passports. I just don’t want it. And neither should you.’ 

He then pivoted in the rant to his ‘back the blue’ support of law enforcement and warned against the country becoming militarized, as well as declaring that he yearned for the 1980s when things ‘felt safer’ in Los Angeles. 

In reality, the 1980s saw the height of the crack epidemic in Los Angeles and, according to the Public Policy Institute of California, property and violent crimes have been trending down in the last few decades – with 2019 seeing a historic low.

Wearing his ‘back the blue’ baseball hat in the video, Ricky repeatedly voiced his support for law enforcement – despite his unwillingness to follow a simple mask rule.

In his personal life, Schroder is no stranger to controversy. In 2019 the NYPD Blue star was arrested twice on suspicion of domestic violence.   

This weekend, the actor went ballistic on a Costco supervisor about not being allowed to enter in the wake of CDC guidance that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks, except where required by local laws. 

‘Why aren’t you letting me in?’ he asked in the video.

‘Because, in the state of California, and in the county of Los Angeles, and Coscto, there’s been no change —’ Jason calmly tries to explain before Schroder interrupts him to falsely claim that there has been a change.

Schroder cites reports that Costco will no longer require shoppers to wear masks and will operate on an honor system as to who has been vaccinated, but that’s only the case when state and local rules allow shoppers to go unmasked.

The supervisor replies that, ‘Costco always goes above and beyond when following the law, and the mandate in California has not changed.’ He also adds that there’s a possibility that the mask mandate could be changed or lifted by June.

‘Oh, if they allow us?’ Schroder says indignantly. ‘If they grant us that, our kings? The people in power? You’re going to listen to these people? They destroyed our economy.’

The supervisor keeps his cool and stays professional amid the rant, explaining again that Costco is only following the law in California and Los Angeles. 

Schroder then turns the camera on himself and urges his followers to end their memberships and to get refunds for them at California Costcos.

The supervisor then adds that the mask mandate still applies to all grocery stories in California and that he’s personally unaware of any locations that are breaking the law and allowing everyone to shop unmasked in the state.

The store’s manager goes one step further and actually issues a refund to Schroder for his membership.

‘Boycott Costco till they act like a Free American Company…not [Chinese flag emoji],’ Schroder wrote in his Instagram caption.  

Later on Saturday, he posted a warning noticed sent to him by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) about an incident in which he allegedly went without a mask during a JetBlue flight.

He got off with a warning, but the letter added that a second violation could result in a penalty of up to $13,910 and could disqualify him from being in the TSA PreCheck program. 

Several social media users lambasted Schroder for his actions and referenced him helping to post bail for Kyle Rittenhouse, who is on trial for shooting and killing two men and severely injuring a third during the unrest following protests inspired by the police killing of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. 

‘Never forget that ‘Ricky’ Schroder helped post bail for Kyle Rittenhouse — the 17-year-old who murdered two protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Now this. On brand…’ wrote Rex Chapman. 

Others criticized Schroder for berating a service employee doing his job for a political stunt.  

‘This isn’t about Ricky Schroder’s politics or even his stance on masks… ANYONE who feels the need to publicly berate retail employees like this — over policies they can’t control — is simply just an a*****e,’ wrote filmmaker Andy Signore.