What to know
- Olivia Chow was filmed dancing during a Pride flag-raising ceremony at Toronto City Hall.
- The video quickly spread across social media and sparked debate among residents.
- Some Torontonians praised the mayor for celebrating Pride and engaging with the community. Others argued she should be focused on issues such as affordability, housing and transit.
- Chow has previously defended criticism of her appearances at cultural festivals and community events.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow is once again going viral for her dance moves.
The mayor was spotted dropping it low alongside a drag performer during a Pride flag-raising ceremony outside Toronto City Hall on Monday, kicking off Pride Month celebrations with a dance that quickly made the rounds online.
While many Torontonians loved seeing Chow let loose, others weren’t quite as impressed.
“We can’t afford food Olivia,” one TikTok user wrote.
“While her city implodes, she dances,” another commenter wrote on X.
Others, however, couldn’t get enough.
“We will work on that waistline Crolivia,” one joked.
“I need to be outside as much as she is,” another person wrote.
Another added: “I think she’s absolutely adorable here. It’s nice to see a mayor having fun and sharing a joyful moment with her community.”
Chow has become known for enthusiastically joining in at festivals and cultural events across the city, whether it’s dancing at Salsa on St. Clair, celebrating in costume at Toronto Caribbean Carnival, or generally taking part in neighbourhood festivities.
And if critics think she spends too much time partying, she’s already heard that one before.
Chow recently responded to ‘party mayor’ criticism
In a video posted to Instagram last month, Chow responded to a series of negative comments left by social media users, including one person who called her Toronto’s “party mayor.”
“People are really sad if they don’t know how to dance or party,” Chow replied.
“This is what the city is all about — where people come together and celebrate each other’s culture, heritage and language. That’s what makes the City of Toronto so special, because we are diverse.”
