Niecy Nash’s 56th birthday trip last month in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, included a shelter-in-place warning following local authorities’ operations against major cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, commonly known as “El Mencho.”
The All’s Fair star posted about the trip on Instagram on February 25. She shared a clip of herself and the group of loved ones who accompanied her on the trip — including her wife, Jessica Betts, her mother, her three children, and their friends. The ensemble cheerfully sang the Golden Girls theme song while at the airport.
Nash posted the clip with a lengthy caption sharing the difficulties her group experienced in Puerto Vallarta due to the cartel-related escalations. She noted a hotel’s unwillingness to share rations with her camp, which stayed in a private home. Additionally, she said a tour operator refused to refund her and her group after they canceled a planned excursion due to safety concerns.
“FINALLY‼️ Home from Puerto Vallarta 😳,” Nash wrote. “Went to celebrate my bday with my family and got caught up in the cartel attacks! Will share the good memories later… this is a quick video to say ♥️ THANK YOU ♥️ to those that covered us in prayer, sent well wishes, made calls to the U.S. Embassy, and shared your connects to get us out!”
“There was fear, anxiety, and [a] few tears,” the actress recalled of the experience. “Challenges for sure showed up BUT GOD! 🙏🏾 Black people are so resilient! One thing for sure, two things for certain: We. Will. Keep. Our. JOY! In the middle [of] that packed airport where so many were frustrated over cancelled flights, long lines, and minimal seating, our joy was on full display! 🙌🏽 People stopped, stared, and then clapped along!”
What Else Is There To Know About Niecy Nash’s 56th Birthday?
After her birthday vacation in Puerto Vallarta, the actress later held a Michael Jordan-themed celebration at the SLS Beverly Hills in Los Angeles. Nash and her birthday cake were decked out in the Chicago Bulls’ iconic red, black, and white colors. Moreover, Jordan sneakers and the legendary player’s “23” jersey number were tied into the festivities. Kandi Burruss, Jackie Aina, Teyana Taylor, Ava DuVernay, Danielle Brooks, and other big names attended the party.
“I celebrate my birthday for three weeks. So, people are like, ‘I thought your birthday passed.’ I’m like, ‘And so? And did?'” Nash told PEOPLE at the party.
“It was scary because I let my kids bring their friends, so I had other people’s children,” the star commented on her recent Puerto Vallarta birthday trip. “It was scary, but we got out unscathed … thanks to the Most High.”
“That’s why you have to take every moment to celebrate joy, celebrate life, all the things,” she added.
Is Puerto Vallarta Safe Now?
Puerto Vallarta is a popular tourist destination on Mexico’s Pacific Coast. Visitors love its laid-back luxe resorts, the many beaches, and the variety of outdoor and in-water activities.
The United States government has lifted its late-February shelter-in-place advisory for travelers in Puerto Vallarta. Local Mexican authorities ultimately killed Cervantes, and no civilians were harmed.
The U.S. State Department noted in a February 25 security alert that as of that date, “The U.S. Embassy and all consulates in Mexico are operating normally.” The latter authority currently classifies Mexico as a “Level 2” zone where travelers should “exercise increased caution.”
The Mexican state of Jalisco, where Puerto Vallarta is located, falls under a “Level 3: Reconsider Travel” advisory due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping concerns. However, the State Department adds that, “There are no restrictions on travel in the Guadalajara Metropolitan area, Puerto Vallarta (including neighboring Riviera Nayarit), Chapala, and Ajijic.”
