NY Mayor Bill de Blasio defended a skit he participated in with presidential candidate Hillary Clinton at the New York’s Inner Circle dinner on Saturday.
Mayor de Blasio thought the skit mocking black people would be funny since he’s married to a black woman. But it didn’t go over well with his black constituents.
After de Blasio practiced rapping with “Hamilton” actor Leslie Odom Jr., Clinton came out onstage to tease the mayor about taking too long to introducing her.
“I came out blazing with heavy artillery, for the queen of Democrats, my home girl, Hillary,” de Blasio rapped as Clinton came out onstage.
“I heard my name,” Clinton said. “I just have to say, thanks for the endorsement, Bill. It took you long enough.”
“Sorry Hillary, I was running on CP time,” de Blasio said, referring to a phrase used by blacks to describe why we are always running late.
Odom, who probably didn’t vote for de Blasio, responded, “That’s not — I don’t like jokes like that, Bill.”
To which Clinton replied, “Cautious politician time. I’ve been there.”
There was a smattering of polite applause from the audience of hand-picked NY journalists and other movers and shakers who were just as confused as Clinton.
A spokesman for Bill de Blasio attempted to squash the rising furor by claiming de Blasio was mocking himself.
“Let’s be clear, in an evening of satire, the only person this was meant to mock was the mayor himself,” the spokesperson said. “Certainly no one intended to offend anyone.”
Asked about the skit by CBS Anchor Erin Burnett on Monday, de Blasio said it was intended to turn a negative stereotype on its head.
Whatever that means.
