El Monte lifeguards fired over ‘Gangnam’ spoof may get jobs back

The lifeguards fired after making a spoof of the popular “Gangnam Style” video could get their jobs back soon, a reversal that comes after thousands — including the Korean rapper behind the viral song — came to their support.

But at least two of the 13 fired lifeguards said they are now unsure whether they would return to the El Monte Aquatic Center.

The City Council, on a split vote, directed the interim city manager to hire back the guards as well as their supervisor, terminated in September for filming at the municipal pool while wearing their uniforms — both violations of El Monte’s employment policy.

“You’ve heard it trivialized, kids will be kids — that the punishment didn’t fit the crime,” said Mayor Andre Quintero, who led the charge to rehire. But he noted that the video, “Lifeguard Style,” with more than 2 million YouTube views, raised questions about mismanagement and lack of oversight at the aquatic center.

“At the end of the day, we have a fiduciary and legal duty” to ensure that the center continues to be “a secure place” for residents, he added.

Dayle Keller, interim city manager, said a review of the lifeguards’ fate launched two weeks ago will take six to eight weeks to complete.

Councilwoman Norma Macias, citing her frustration over the matter, said she would like to move beyond the lifeguard distraction to “more important city business.”

“I really hold more of the [pool] supervisors accountable,” she added, asking about security cameras at the aquatic center and “how were lifeguards able to access the space after hours?”

Macias and Councilman Bart Patel backed Quintero on a 3-2 vote favoring the rehiring.

“This is not the most popular thing to do, it’s the right thing to do,” Patel said. “We don’t like to micromanage. We have our professional staff to do that.” But, he added, “when there are lapses in that process, it’s up to the council to take the leadership.”

Some of the lifeguards who lost their jobs came to Tuesday’s council meeting wearing red T-shirts urging officials to “Bring Back the EMAC 14” — a reference to the El Monte Aquatic Center.

“We are still in the same spot that we were in weeks ago,” said Michael Roa, a University of La Verne student and former employee who edited the video spoof.

Roa is unsure if he would go back to work if rehired. “I’ve heard a pool rep say that the pool is fully functioning, so it’s unclear whether we would get our hours back,” he said.

anh.do@latimes.com