Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

News

Bill De Blasio Demonstrates The Smackdown, A Dance That Involves Hand-Licking


By

Lauren Evans

Published Sep 3, 2013

Modified Sep 3, 2013


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .


By

Lauren Evans

Published Sep 3, 2013

Modified Sep 3, 2013


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Bill de Blasio and his family got down at the West Indian Day Parade on Monday, demonstrating a little number called The Smackdown that, though ostensibly the official dance of the de Blasio campaign, was still pretty hard to watch.

The dance begins by positioning your hand in front of your face, then looping your arm around your head. As your hand passes once again before your face, lick it. Yes, the official dance of the de Blasio campaign involves salivating on your own hand. Once your hand is good and licked, use it to make a "smacking" motion. Congratulations. You have successfully completed the Smackdown. Don't worry if you don't look particularly "suave" or "mayoral" while doing it—even Dante and his Majestic Afro had trouble pulling the move off, because it is terribly awkward. You can watch the thing in all its glory here:

Other coverage of the de Blasio campaign over the long weekend probably won't have him performing the Smackdown in his office. The Daily News reports that he accepted as much as $54,000 from landlords who previously held a place on his own Worst Landlords Watch List (most of them have since been promoted to the "rehab" list, but not before they destroyed the lives of their tenants, who made claims of everything from clogged pipes to persistent mold.)

He also raked in funds from opponents of Central Park's carriage horses, who unfastened their hefty purses upon hearing de Blasio would abolish the tradition "within his first week in office."

Tagged

bill de blasio

campaign finances

carriage horses

the smackdown

worst landlords watch list


Lauren Evans

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


MORE news

ICE agent shoots, injures immigrant man in NYC's Marble Hill, DHS says

The agency says the man is alive and hospitalized.

By

Giulia Heyward

and

Arya Sundaram

Published Oct 8, 2026 at 5:33 p.m. ET

Modified Oct 8, 2026 at 10:32 p.m. ET


Lazy drivers in Prospect Heights lose chance for 1 less day of alternate-side parking

A pilot found that drivers actually complied with alternate-side less when fewer days were in effect.

By

Liam Quigley

News

Lazy drivers in Prospect Heights lose chance for 1 less day of alternate-side parking

A pilot found that drivers actually complied with alternate-side less when fewer days were in effect.

By

Liam Quigley


Jersey City mayor shakes up staff amid $255M budget gap

By

Michael Sol Warren

Bronx residents will be exempt from new Medicaid work rule, state officials say

By

Caroline Lewis

MTA chair accuses Andy Byford, who's leading Penn Station rebuild, of going 'full MAGA'

By

Stephen Nessen

and

Carol Chen


Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .