TRENTON, N.J. — On Easter Sunday five years ago, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy appeared in a lighthearted video amid the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, drawing a divided public response during one of the most harrowing moments in the state’s modern history.
The video, posted April 12, 2020, showed Tammy Murphy dressed in a full bunny costume introducing her husband, who held a stuffed rabbit. The couple aimed to inject some levity as the state remained under strict lockdown orders due to the surging virus.
At the time, New Jersey had reported more than 61,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and at least 2,350 deaths.
The state, one of the hardest-hit in the U.S., was under a state of emergency declared by Murphy on March 9, 2020. That order had closed schools, restricted gatherings, and mandated residents to remain home.
The Easter message was part of broader efforts by officials across the country to maintain public morale as major holidays were altered by social distancing guidelines and escalating health concerns. Still, the reaction in New Jersey was mixed.
Some residents appreciated the attempt to lighten the mood, but others criticized the video as ill-timed.
“Some appreciated the attempt at levity, while others found it tone-deaf given the severity of the crisis and the economic strain felt by many residents,” according to public feedback at the time.
Murphy’s administration was simultaneously under fire for its handling of long-term care facilities, where more than 40% of New Jersey’s COVID-related deaths occurred by mid-2020. Outbreaks in nursing homes emerged as a focal point of criticism amid widespread scrutiny of pandemic policies.
Public image and political fallout
The Easter video also marked an uncommon personal moment for the governor, a former Goldman Sachs executive and U.S. Ambassador to Germany, who had typically maintained a reserved and formal public image.
Murphy’s approach to communication during the pandemic often included daily briefings and data-heavy updates. The holiday message stood in contrast to that pattern, representing a notable shift in tone as the administration navigated an evolving public health crisis, but remains as one of the cringiest videos a New Jersey governor has ever created.
Key Points
- Gov. Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy posted a lighthearted Easter video in April 2020 during peak COVID-19 lockdowns.
- New Jersey was among the hardest-hit states, with over 61,000 cases and 2,350 deaths by that date.
- Public reaction to the video was mixed, with some calling it uplifting and others labeling it tone-deaf.
The video, while brief and seemingly benign, became a flashpoint in the broader public debate over how officials should communicate in times of crisis, underscoring the fine line between morale-boosting and misreading the moment.