Ava Loren Burbank, California’s Democratic Mayor, Konstantine Anthony, found himself at the center of controversy during a city council meeting on Tuesday.
The uproar originated from a video captured at a fundraising event, wherein Mayor Anthony was seen being playfully spanked by a drag queen. The footage from the event depicted Anthony, who took office as mayor in 2022, bending over a table while a drag queen used a paddle to give him a playful swat. In the background, there was a small decoration featuring the “poo emoji,” and at a nearby table adorned with the rainbow “Pride” flag, a man in a Jimmy Buffett-style outfit observed with what appeared to be a somewhat disapproving expression.
Regarding the release of the video, Anthony commented, “There were some shenanigans, some silly stuff happened, it was all fun and games. Unbeknownst to the people in attendance, there was a secret video that was made and then shared with a very prominent hate group.”
This particular event was a “Drag Queen Bingo” fundraiser organized by the Santa Clarita Valley Democrats, as indicated in a Facebook post promoting the occasion.
“I come from a background of performing in a light-hearted manner,” Anthony explained during the meeting. “To me, what may seem goofy and normal, might be considered inappropriate by others. That’s my responsibility, not theirs. I need to recognize that boundary.”
He later added, “I need to grasp that what I personally view as my role, duty, and job may not align with everyone else’s perspective. I believe this is a challenging task for any elected official, and I’m struggling with it.”
