Former President Barack Obama had planned a lavish birthday bash that will feature about 700 guests and staff at his family’s $12 million mansion on Martha’s Vineyard. However, the original guest list was cut back amid rising coronavirus cases.
“Due to the new spread of the delta variant over the past week, the President and Mrs. Obama have decided to significantly scale back the event to include only family and close friends. President Obama is appreciative of others sending their birthday wishes from afar and looks forward to seeing people soon,” Hannah Hankins, a spokesperson for Obama, said in a statement to NBC News Wednesday.
On Saturday, the party was held, and though the celebration was smaller than originally planned by the former leader, guests declared it the “party of all parties.” About 200 friends and family members attended the outdoor gathering, including Hollywood stars and other celebrities. John Legend, Tom Hanks, Erykah Badu, H.E.R. and Steven Spielberg were reportedly among those on the guest list.
Others spotted arriving at Martha’s Vineyard were Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union, actor Don Cheadle, and Kim Fields from the “Real Housewives of Atlanta” reality show. Drones were not allowed to fly over the area on Saturday due to a flight restriction while photos posted by Erykah Badu and H.E.R. from the 60th birthday bash have since been deleted on social media.
However, in videos that spread over social media, Obama was seen dancing in a tent to the song “Birthday B—-“. The lyrics were changed to “Birthday Prez,” according to The Washington Post. “The production, the sound, the lights, the staff, the food, the drinks — like, man, epic. Epic, epic, man. Y’all never seen Obama like this in your life. … The party of all parties,” music manager T.J. Chapman wrote on an Instagram post.
PEOPLE reported that Obama “danced all night” and “had the biggest smile” throughout the event. “Over the 30 years I’ve known them, I don’t think I’ve ever seen them as happy as they are now,” former White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett said of Obama and wife Michelle, according to the Post.
President Joe Biden did not make it, but he sent a happy birthday video message that played at the party, the Post added.
Guests had to submit negative COVID-19 test results to a specific “coronavirus coordinator” before they were allowed to enter.
