El Monte Council Recommends Lifeguard Firings Over “Gangnam Style”-Inspired Video Be Overturned

Fourteen El Monte lifeguards were fired after a celebratory end-of-summer "Gangnam Style" spoof

The El Monte City Council recommended on Tuesday night that the lifeguards who were fired after they made a video spoof of the song "Gangnam Style" should be reinstated, according to reporters inside the chamber.

The lifeguards involved in the aquatic controversy attended the 7 p.m. meeting, which wrapped up around midnight.

The council considered reinstatement of the 14 lifeguards who shot the video -- "Lifeguard Style" has more than 2 million views on YouTube -- at a municipal aquatic center. Pool supervisors cited a policy that bars misuse of municipal property when they fired the lifeguards.

Mayor Andre Quintero asked city staff to bring back a motion to have the lifeguards reinstated while a review of the firings is conducted.

The lifeguards received support on Facebook and from the creator of "Gangnam Style" -- rapper PSY -- after the firings. Participants said they made the video to celebrate a summer of working at the pool.

Other council members have not objected to the mayor's call to consider reinstatement. An outside investigator is conducting a review of the video and resulting firings.

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