New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Yang is being blasted after he was caught on video laughing when asked if he "choked" women.
In the video, the man, who described women as "b****es,” also asks in crude terms if Yang keeps his Timberland boots while he is having sex.
Yang is heard replying: "I think it's purely up to your partner."
Politico observed that Yang backed away from the man after the questions, and appeared to wave him off.
"I think most New Yorkers know that I try to be friendly to people, and in this case, someone wanted a video, and I thought I’d be friendly," said Yang, who unsuccessfully tried for the Democrat presidential nomination in 2020.
"But then he said something that was plainly inappropriate that I didn't find funny at all, and so I walked away and ended the interaction as quickly as possible. You know, obviously I don't think that's appropriate."
Still, the video has set off a firestorm.
"You don't use that (b) word, and absolutely you do not get to engage in that behavior, it is not funny, we do not laugh, we do not turn our backs and walk away," candidate Maya Wiley said, according to ABC7 in New York.
A small group of elected progressive women, including State Senator Alessandra Biaggi and Assembly members Linda Rosenthal, Nily Rozic, Carmen De La Rosa, and Catalina Cruz, released the following statement:
"We couldn't believe our eyes or ears. When Andrew Yang was asked by supporters about violently assaulting women, he responded by laughing. To put it plainly — this is disqualifying for someone who is seeking to be mayor of New York. When too many political leaders have betrayed our trust, abused their power, and sexually harassed and assaulted women, we need public officials who will protect women instead of laugh at us. We need leaders with the backbone to stand up to misogyny when it is happening in real time. Andrew Yang has failed the test — and New York women — time and time again. We deserve better."
Rita Pasarell, co-founder of the New York Sexual Harassment Working Group, is quoted by Politico as saying: "We've really all been in the room when someone makes a joke out of women's dignity and safety and in those moments, we decide who we are. Today we saw again who Yang is, and that is somebody who chose the comfort of the moment ahead of women's lives. He chose seeming cool ahead of women's safety, and women cannot afford another leader who is afraid to stand up for women's safety in New York."
Jeffrey Rodack ✉
Jeffrey Rodack, who has nearly a half century in news as a senior editor and city editor for national and local publications, has covered politics for Newsmax for nearly seven years.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.