Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson faced intense criticism online for an awkward dance video announcing his re-election bid. The video, which featured him and others dancing to "Hideaway" by Kiesza from a rooftop, was met with ridicule on social media. Commenters noted the lack of a solid plan for addressing Chicago's rising crime rate, which has increased 27% during Johnson’s tenure according to police statistics.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-16,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it -0.35, but every quote it verified points right, so the score is not published.
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Leaning score withheld for article 10870: score contradicts its own evidence · logged 2026-09-16
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson was ridiculed on social media for an embarrassing dance video announcing his reelection bid as crime in the Windy City has spiraled out of control under his watch.
asserted
crime → ridicule → watch
Johnson, 50, showed off his stiff dance moves on a Chicago rooftop while lip-syncing to “Hideaway” by Kiesza — with a group of young people busting a move behind him, including a woman wearing an “I [heart] DEI” T-shirt.
asserted
I → show → shirt
“POV: News just dropped that Mayor Brandon Johnson is running for re-election!” the enthusiastic caption over the 12-second Instagram video read as Johnson gyrated about, clad in a gray business suit.
asserted
Johnson → drop → suit
Commenters on the platform tore into Johnson for the sheer awkwardness of the video, with others hitting him on his record as mayor.
asserted
others → tear → mayor
“No solidified plan, just dancing,” one unimpressed Instagram commenter wrote in response.
asserted
commenter → solidify → response
“This video is just another reason as to why he’s NOT getting our votes,” wrote another.
asserted
another → get → votes
“Is this a joke?” a third commenter asked.
asserted
commenter → ask → ?
The episode calls to mind a similarly embarrassing video filmed of his predecessor, Lori Lightfoot, during her own reelection campaign in 2023, where she busted a move in city streets as a drumline played.
asserted
drumline → call → streets
Despite Johnson’s attempt to put a cheery spin on his time in office, his tenure has been marred by a 27% surge in overall crime through 2025 compared to the previous four years, according to Chicago Police statistics, and a disturbing rise in antisemitic hate crimes.
uncertain
tenure → put → crimes
He’s also been taken to task repeatedly for stirring up race-based animus and making a series of bizarre public statements.
asserted
He → take → statements
Even before he was sworn in as mayor, Johnson took heat for warning the public against “demonizing” violent “teen takeovers” in the downtown cluster, during which cars were set ablaze, private property was damaged and rowdy youths clashed with cops.
asserted
youths → swear → cops
“Black death has been unfortunately been accepted in this country for a very long time,” the mayor baselessly claimed.
asserted
mayor → accept → time
“We had a chance 60 years ago to get at the root causes.
asserted
We → get → causes
And people mocked President Johnson, and we ended up with Richard Nixon,” he said without elaborating.
asserted
he → mock → Nixon
Jewish leaders and organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League, have urged Johnson to establish an antisemitism task force to protect the community, after the Chicago Commission on Human Relations found the Jewish community experienced a 58% increase in hate crimes over 2023-2024.
asserted
community → include → 2023
“You just watched the entire city council, in transparency, try to take wages away from the very people who are part of an industry that has its ties to slavery is hiding from that,” Johnson said.
asserted
Johnson → watch → that
“I am boldly declaring that we need reparations in this city, and that’s why I’m funding it.”
asserted
I → declare → it
Over the summer, Johnson bafflingly declared he was reupping the city’s “Trans Femicide State of Emergency” to highlight violence against transgender women — despite just one reported killing of a trans person this year, compared with nearly 300 other murders across the city.
asserted
he → declare → city
Johnson is determined to press on, despite abysmally low approval ratings — a recent University of Chicago survey showing just 13.6% of likely voters want him to run again.
asserted
him → press → voters
He will face an uphill battle in the February 2027 mayoral race, vying for the position with candidates including Chicago Housing Authority CEO Matt Brewer, former Chicago alderman George Cardenas and Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias.
asserted
He → face → State
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson shared a video of himself dancing on Instagram to announce his re-election bid and was ridiculed for the upbeat rooftop display as the city languishes in the streets below.
asserted
city → share → streets
Despite Johnson's attempt to put a cheery spin on his time in office, his tenure has been marred by a 27% surge in overall crime through 2025.
asserted
tenure → put → 2025
Homelessness in Chicago remains near all-time highs, despite initiatives undertaken by the Johnson administration to combat it.
asserted
Homelessness → remain → it
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