Fans' anger over unusual detail in actress' family photo

Alyssa Milano responded to criticism on Twitter after being accused of wearing an unsafe face mask.

On Saturday, the former Charmed actress posted a photo with her family in the car.

Milano, husband Dave Bugliara and their two children were all pictured wearing face masks, with the TV star and activist in a cream crochet version.

“Masks keep people safe and healthy,” she wrote in the caption. “Show me yours!”

Immediately replies started flooding in, pointing out Milano’s crochet mask and calling it ineffective in stopping the spread of COVID-19 because of its porous holes and wide knit.

One commenter wrote, “Alyssa that mask is as helpful as a screen door on a submarine.”

Another follower illustrated the criticism, posting a picture of a fence along with the caption: “Your mask is exactly what this fence does to keep mosquitoes out.”

Milano was quick to tamp down the criticism.

“Mask has a carbon filter in it,” she wrote. “So, yes, it might be crochet but totally safe.”

She also supplied a screenshot of the carbon filter she bought to put inside her mask. She also told another user that the mask was made by her mom.

Others jumped onto the thread in support of crochet masks, saying that as long as they have a carbon filter inside, they are completely effective.

One commenter even supplied a photo of what a crochet mask with a carbon filter looks like from the inside.

On all of her social media channels, Milano has been outspoken about the importance of wearing masks, sharing many resources about their effectiveness, all with the same message: #WearAMask.

Milano also retweeted one particularly apt reply to the whole crochet mask debacle that unfolded on her page.

“What a metaphor for life,” the Twitter user wrote. “Judging something on the surface without knowing what lies beneath.”

Words by Elena Sheppard

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