New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton were forced to defend a joke made by the mayor at a charity dinner that critics considered racially offensive.
The incident occurred Saturday night, when Clinton and De Blasio took part in a skit at the Inner Circle dinner, a black-tie event in which New York City’s political press corps and politicians spend the evening making fun of each other.
Clinton took the stage ostensibly to thank De Blasio, a former aide, for his belated endorsement of her for the Democratic nomination.
“Took you long enough,” Clinton said.
De Blasio responded, “Sorry, Hillary. I was running on C.P. time.” The phrase, popular in pop culture, is a reference to the stereotype that African-Americans are typically late for appointments.
Broadway actor Leslie Odom Jr., who was also on stage with Clinton and De Blasio and appeared to be in on the joke, said, “That’s not – I don’t like jokes about that, Bill.”
Clinton then turned to Odom and delivered the punch line, “Cautious Politician Time. I’ve been there.”
The exchange takes place at the 8:30 mark of this video, posted on the NYC Mayor’s Office YouTube channel.