By Ellen Cans
Sen. Chuck Schumer was criticized on Twitter for lighthearted dancing backstage with late night host Stephen Colbert at the We Love NYC concert, despite the upheaval engulfing Afghanistan. “Backstage antics,” captioned Mayor de Blasio’s press secretary , Bill Neidhart, posting a video to Twitter on Saturday before the concert in Central Park was canceled due to Hurricane Henri. The video, which garnered some 3.9 million views, shows Schumer without a care in the world, getting down to some rap music accompanied by Colbert.
As reported by the NY Post, viewers were displeased at the levity, amidst the crisis in Afghanistan, and the troublesome resurgence of COVID-19, with the Delta variant. ”Must be a slow news day,” commented one Twitter user, referencing the dancing video side by side with images of a child collapsed in a man’s arms in Afghanistan.
Another user blasted the politician and funnyman for failing to take heart to the situation at hand. “These are not serious people. Good thing there’s nothing else going on that may require the Senate Majority Leader’s attention. As to Colbert, he becomes less & less relevant with each passing day,” said the social media user .
Schumer was also ripped for seeming indifferent while thousands of people in Afghanistan are scrambling to escape Taliban rule. “I find plenty of joy in life but this isn’t a joyful moment. This is a snapshot of the political class showing their utter disdain for the electorate and the soldiers they sent into harms way as a result of their failed leadership. Sorry you can’t see that,” wrote a Twitter user. Well known conservative voices also chimed in, including Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who commented that the dancing was “Celebrating the demise of the Republic…”
Another user wrote that there are others celebrating now too, besides Schumer. “The #Taliban is throwing an epic house party… dancing all over the hallowed ground & graves of American servicemen and women.” a post said.
Critics also went on to ask why New York City even held the concert amid the anticipated hurricane, as well as rising cases of COVID-19. “Er, not sure why NY officials ever thought going through with a ‘Covid-is-over-not-over’ homecoming concert in Central Park when Hurricane Henri was due to hit was a good idea,” said a Twitter user.
The Homecoming concert, on Saturday night was cancelled abruptly midway, and mid-song, due to lightening and the storm at the Great lawn of Central Park. The concert’s impressive lineup included LL Cool J, Jennifer Hudson, Bruce Springsteen, Carlos Santana and Andrea Bocelli.
