Burbank, California's Mayor Konstantine Anthony finds himself in controversy as a video of his participation in a fundraising event goes viral on various social media platforms, prompting heated debates and discussions across the internet.
The relevant video shows the Democratic party member engaging in a playful spanking with a drag performer.
Burbank Mayor Spanked by a Drag Performer
The video quickly sparked a flurry of online responses, with some individuals contending that the event was intended only for adults and others claiming that minors were also welcome.
Drag Queen Bingo, sponsored by the Santa Clarita Valley Democrats on September 9th, was at the center of the controversy, as per Bizpac Review.
The event poster indicated that it was open to those 15 and older, but it also stated that it was not suitable for children. Due to its dissemination by numerous online accounts, including Libs of TikTok, which played a pivotal role in its viral spread, the video garnered significant traction.
Per Daily Mail, this controversial account claimed that a drag queen chastised Konstantin Anthony in front of minors. Once the video was uploaded to Twitter via the Libs of TikTok account, it quickly gained nearly two million views.
Anthony himself responded to the video's popularity with a provocative question: "Jealous???"
The mayor engaged in a back-and-forth with Libs Of TikTok after the video went viral, asserting emphatically that no minors were present at the event. Neither claim, however, could be independently verified.
The voyage to the office of Konstantine Anthony. His educational path led him to spend his middle school years in rural Iowa and study film at San Francisco State University, where he encountered diverse students from around the globe.
In 2004, Anthony relocated to Burbank to pursue a career as a union film and television actor. With a background of 20 years in improv comedy, he has appeared in numerous television programs and movies. His dedication to issues of social justice led him to enter politics.
On his second attempt, Konstantine Anthony was elected to the Burbank City Council, making him the first openly autistic elected official of the Mississippi River. Since 2006, he has been a member of SAG-AFTRA, and he joined SEIU in 2019.
In addition, he has served on several councils and boards, such as the Burbank Advisory Council on Disabilities since 2018, the executive committee of Burbank PFLAG since 2019, and the Burbank Transportation Commission from 2017 to 2020, where he resigned as Chair to take his seat on the City Council.
The mayor is married to the actor and comedian Margo Rowder, and the couple is the fortunate parents of one child.
Reactions of the Public and Controversy
Per MEAWW, some individuals voiced disapproval and concern over the mayor's actions, deeming them unbecoming of his position. One Twitter user remarked, "Really classy by the Mayor."
"Is this the mayor of a significant city? What have we become, God?," another user said.
Someone else added, "You have no respect for your city or the office you hold."
"What passes for 'campaign events' nowadays is genuinely mind-boggling. What happened to manners and establishing a good example for youth? The bizarreness of the world seems to have reached a whole new level," a comment read.
The controversy surrounding Mayor Konstantine Anthony's participation in the fundraising event has sparked a more considerable discussion about the limits of public figures' behavior, particularly concerning their duties and responsibilities as representatives of their constituents.
As the online discussion continues, it is unclear how this incident will affect his political career and standing within the Burbank community.