Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has faced backlash on social media after being filmed dancing backstage at the We Love NYC: The Homecoming Concert in Central Park on Saturday. Critics argued the event was tone-deaf given ongoing crises, including the situation in Afghanistan and the approaching Hurricane Henri.
The concert, intended to mark the end of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City, was abruptly cancelled midway through as Hurricane Henri approached. Attendees were told to leave Central Park and seek shelter, despite Mayor Bill de Blasio and officials having ignored a tropical storm watch earlier.
Social media users criticised Schumer and de Blasio for prioritising the event. One user noted that over 10,000 Americans remain stranded in Afghanistan, while others highlighted the risks of gathering during the Delta variant surge. Investigative journalist Leah McGrath Goodman questioned the decision to proceed with the concert given the hurricane warning.
The event was originally planned to celebrate the city's recovery from the pandemic, which saw New York become a global epicentre in April 2020. However, the combination of the hurricane, the Afghanistan crisis, and the ongoing pandemic led to widespread criticism of the officials involved.
