Toronto woman facing backlash after refusing to wear mask at St. Joseph’s hospital in viral video

A Toronto woman is drawing online ridicule after a video she posted of herself refusing to wear a mask at St. Joseph's hospital went viral.

Letitia Montana tweeted that she went with her son for a suspected broken finger" to the emergency department at the hospital at 30 The Queensway on Saturday.

The video shows hospital staff asking her to wear a mask, which she refused to do.

You are making me wear a mask otherwise you are going to deny me service," she says to a staff member in the video.

The staff can be heard saying, please wear a mask, it's policy" in the background.

The video ends before Montana, who is identified in her Twitter bio as an insurance and investment advisor, said three security guards escorted her out.

In a statement to the Star, hospital network Unity Health Toronto said masks must be worn by everyone in St. Joseph's Health Centre to keep patients, staff and visitors safe.

This policy follows guidelines set out by Ontario's Ministry of Health based on our best scientific understanding of COVID-19 and how it spreads," the network said.

We encourage all community members to seek care when they need it. At St. Joseph's and any of our Unity Health Toronto sites, you will be asked questions about any COVID-19 related symptoms, to wear a mask and remember to maintain physical distancing in all parts of the hospital."

The hospital did not directly comment on the video, which has been viewed 4.6 million times.

I would like to thank the brave front-line heroes at St. Joseph's Health Centre and across Ontario for putting themselves in harm's way to care for us," Health Minister Christine Elliott said in a statement.

When seeking care, each of us should follow all protocols in place at hospitals to help protect front-line workers and other patients."

The backlash to the video was swift, from celebrities to politicians.

This is a new level of moronic and entitled," actor George Takei tweeted.

Proud of the healthcare workers who threw her out!," tweeted model Chrissy Teigen.

Coun. Michael Ford (Ward 1, Etobicoke North) tweeted: Translation - I don't care about you or anyone else but you better care about me."

City of Toronto chief communications officer Brad Ross replied to the video saying: You're doing social media all wrong, Letitia. Don't make your name a verb. Put the camera away and don a mask inside public places, *especially* hospitals. Doing so protects others - you know, your fellow humans."

After the backlash, Montana tweeted, How easy it is for some of you to judge! The few times I put on a mask I could hardly breathe especially with the hot summer heat. This has lead me to do research on them & what I learned from the science is that they do compromise your health in more ways than one."

Shortly after, she added, I will not endanger my own life or that of my son to comply to the demands of some politicians."

Non-medical masks and face covering will be mandatory in indoor public spaces in Toronto starting Tuesday to limit the spread the coronavirus. The requirement doesn't apply to children under two or people who can't wear masks for medical reasons.

Abhya Adlakha is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @AbhyaAdlakha