MONTREAL -- Quebec's director of public health has issued an apology for participating in a music video that some viewers found to be in poor taste.
Dr. Horacio Arruda offered a tearful apology during the provincial government's daily COVID-19 briefing in Quebec City on Tuesday, saying he "never wanted to insult anybody."
The clip is titled "Oragio" -- a play on words involving Arruda's first name and the French word for "thunderstorm."
It features Arruda and Quebecois musical artist Rod le Stod performing what they call a "confinement dance" over Le Stod's lyrics.
Some commenters defended Arruda's actions, while others said the display was "pathetic", "disgusting", and "shameful."
Le Stod claimed the proceeds from the video would be donated to a local organization serving homeless youth in Montreal.
However, the shelter Refuge des jeunes de Montreal disassociated itself from the video through a Facebook post, despite recognizing the duo's "good intentions."
As of Tuesday afternoon, the video had been viewed nearly 300,000 times on YouTube.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 12, 2020.
