Millionaire Andrew Yang sparked criticism online for his recent trip to a New York 'bodega.'
- Andrew Yang, a 2020 Democratic presidential contender running to be mayor of New York, lost the endorsement of a prominent LGBTQ political group Thursday.
- Apr 15, 2021 A video hit Twitter Thursday morning that shows an unidentified man use the B-word to describe women and Yang laughs in response. 'You don't use that word and absolutely you do not get to engage in.
- 1 day ago THE NON-YANG GANG — People outside of New York City could be forgiven for thinking Andrew Yang is the only person running for mayor. The former presidential candidate and tech entrepreneur is.
The New York City mayoral hopeful released a video in which he talked about the importance of the bodega, which is typically a small, privately operated convenience store, as he picked up a few items.
651.6k Followers, 152 Following, 2,211 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Andrew Yang (@andrewyang).
Sporting a 'Yang' face mask, the former 2020 presidential contender strolled through a 'bodega' and shopped for groceries.
'The breakfast of champions — some green tea [and] a banana,' he said, dancing with the selected items on camera.
Yang paused and addressed the camera directly with an appeal for viewers' financial backing of local bodegas.
'New York City relies upon its 14,000 bodegas so much. I love bodegas. We've got to make sure that they continue to stay open and do their thing,' he said, adding, 'New York City, support your local bodegas.'
New York City loves its bodegas! The 14,000 bodegas are vital to our city - let’s support them and keep them open. 👍❤️🗽 pic.twitter.com/pGb24IerGz
— Andrew Yang🧢🗽🇺🇸 (@AndrewYang) January 15, 2021The video was criticized on social media by users claiming that the featured 'bodega' was not representative of the city's typical shopping experience. Imani Gandy, a senior editor of law and policy for Rewire News Group, tweeted, 'lol that's not a bodega.'
lol that’s not a bodega. https://t.co/dLgEgxYKZK
— ⚖️Imani ‘I Smell Sex and’ Gandy ⚖️ (@AngryBlackLady) January 15, 2021Samuel Nemir-Olivares, an activist who ran for district leader in Brooklyn, pointed out his concerns about Yang's tactile approach to shopping amid the coronavirus pandemic.
'Did he -amidst COVID- touched (sic) the bananas and didn’t buy them? Then his team edited the video to cut out where he leaves them on the counter?' he tweeted. 'Bodega buyers and New Yorkers deserve answers.'
I have so many questions about this Yang video, but first things first:
Did he -amidst COVID- touched the bananas and didn’t buy them?
Then his team edited the video to cut out where he leaves them on the counter?
Bodega buyers and New Yorkers deserve answers. https://t.co/IJnN5fRDsm
— Samy Nemir-Olivares (@Samynemir) January 15, 2021CNN commentator Keith Boykin, a New York resident, mocked Yang's video as well.
'I had to squeeze my way out of my two-bedroom Manhattan apartment and schlep all the way to the bodega today because I want you to know I’m a real New Yorker just like you,' he wrote.
I had to squeeze my way out of my two-bedroom Manhattan apartment and schlep all the way to the bodega today because I want you to know I’m a real New Yorker just like you. pic.twitter.com/BIrgG4TWFD
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) January 15, 2021Boykin's comments apparently referenced another recent remark painting Yang as out of touch. Yang said he decided not to live in New York City, arguing that residing in an apartment with his family would be untenable given the close living quarters.
“We live in a two-bedroom apartment in Manhattan. And so, like, can you imagine trying to have two kids on virtual school in a two-bedroom apartment, and then trying to do work yourself?” he asked in an interview with the New York Times.
When asked about Yang's remarks at the time, Greg Nasif, chief spokesman and press secretary at Yang's Humanity Forward Foundation, told the Washington Examiner, 'HF does not support or endorse, and will not comment on or respond to any inquiries relating to, any political campaign or candidate for elected office.'
Tags:News, Andrew Yang, New York City, NYC, Mayor
Original Author:Carly Roman
Original Location:New York City mayoral hopeful Andrew Yang prompts Twitter ire with 'bodega' video
© Greg Nash Andrew Yang sparks Twitter uproar with pro-bodega videoNew York City mayoral candidate Andrew Yang sparked an uproar Friday on Twitter after posting a video of himself throwing support behind 'bodegas,' with many claiming the store he was walking through was not, in fact, a bodega.
A 'bodega,' derived from the Spanish word for a wine shop or warehouse, is commonly used in New York to refer to independently owned family businesses, primarily in Spanish-speaking neighborhoods.
In Yang's video posted to Twitter Friday morning, the former 2020 Democratic presidential candidate appears walking through a store grabbing bottles of green tea and bananas, before turning to the camera and saying, 'New York City relies upon its 14,000 bodegas so much. I love bodegas.'
'We've got to make sure that they continue to stay open and do their thing,' he says while paying for his items. 'Can you imagine a New York City without bodegas? I can't imagine it, let's not have to.'
New York City loves its bodegas! The 14,000 bodegas are vital to our city - let's support them and keep them open. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/pGb24IerGz
- Andrew Yang (@AndrewYang) January 15, 2021Is Andrew Yang A Billionaire
While it was not clear which store was featured in the video and where it was located, several Twitter users were quick to argue that the location was a regular convenience store, mocking Yang for allegedly not knowing which businesses are bodegas.
Some Twitter users claimed that the video showed Yang was out of touch with the communities that have bodegas, with many posting memes and gifs to jokingly display their discontent.
lol that's not a bodega. https://t.co/dLgEgxYKZK
- ⚖️Imani 'I Smell Sex and' Gandy ⚖️ (@AngryBlackLady) January 15, 2021Andrew Yang is just the US tech bro version of Rory Stewart https://t.co/LqfJryk6uy
- Francis Whittaker (@frittaker) January 15, 2021Metrocard swipes. Bodegas. Maybe next we'll get a tour of Andrew Yang's 2BR in Manhattan. pic.twitter.com/qkTfLiSBdp
- Kristy Puchko (@KristyPuchko) January 15, 2021Andrew Yang is really building a campaign on:
1. Bodegas
2. Fake money
3. TikTok hype houses pic.twitter.com/f41maKJaPQ
- The Pigeon Pageant (@yosoymichael) January 15, 2021Yang's team did not immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment on the context for the video, though Yang later responded to criticism in a follow-up tweet, writing 'Haha I love New York,' along with a smiling face emoji.
Andrew Yang Twitter A Train
The video came just two days after Yang officially announced his run for New York City mayor, saying that he hopes to help aid residents negatively impacted by the coronavirus-fueled economic crisis in the city.
Yang on his campaign website proposed 'the largest basic income program in history,' and called for an investment in a 'human-centered economy.' He also listed 'fact-based governance' and an accessible health care system as priorities for his campaign.
'We need to do all this while enacting accountable and smart policing, building affordable housing, closing our city's digital divide, modernizing transportation and city services, and more,' he added.
Paget Kagy Twitter
'Let's fight for a future New York City that we can be proud of - together,' he said in a Twitter post announcing his campaign.