Jumaane Williams Celebrates Victory With Song Linked To Sex Abuse

FLATBUSH, BROOKLYN — "Blurred Lines," the controversial song that outraged rape survivors and the family of the late Marvin Gaye, blared at a party for newly elected Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, days after he admitted a fight with his girlfriend got him arrested in 2009.

Robin Thicke's song played Tuesday night at Flatbush's Cafe Omar, where the soon-to-be elected Williams gathered with family, friends and reporters to watch the Public Advocate race returns.

The playlist was chosen by an outside DJ who was not affiliated with Williams or his campaign office, a spokesperson said.

Patch's City Hall reporter Noah Manskar and Chalkbeat editor Carrie Melago both noted the song on the victory playlist at about 10 p.m.

Patch could not immediately reach the Nostrand Avenue cafe, so it is not immediately clear who added the controversial song to Williams' victory playlist.

But this isn't the first time Williams supporters were treated to "Blurred Lines."

The song played at a Cafe Omar in September, when the Flatbush City Councilman, who was running for lieutenant governor at the time, joined running mate Cynthia Nixon to watch the primary election returns, Wall Street Journal reporter Jimmy Vielkind noted.

"Blurred Lines," is an interesting choice considering the song spurred outrage among rape survivors in 2013, years before the #MeToo movement exposed rampant sexual abuse in the entertainment industry.

Rape survivors condemned the lyrics "I know you want it," a music video featuring Thicke plunging large needles into topless models and descriptions of violent sexual acts, arguing the singer was guilty of glamorizing sexual assault.

And, as Public Advocate opponent Melissa Mark-Viverito noted Monday, the Public Advocate position became available because sex abuse allegations forced Eric Schneiderman to step down and Tish James left her office to replace him as attorney general.

“Let’s not forget, this public advocate’s race began because of violence against women,” Mark-Viverito reportedly said at a press conference, during which she calling on Williams to share more information about a 2009 arrest that followed a fight with his then-girlfriend.

“He has not adequately responded to his history around choice, around a woman’s right to choose, and LGBTQI issues,” added Nomiki Konst, who also ran for Public Advocate.

Both candidates called on Williams to denounce support from state Sen. Kevin Parker, who told a female Senate staffer to “kill yourself,” and whom Williams thanked in his acceptance speech Tuesday night.

"Blurred Lines" was also the subject of a recent copyright lawsuit, according to a Forbes report. Marvin Gaye's family won 50 percent of all song royalties in 2018, when a judge found Thicke crossed the line with repeated sampling of Gaye’s 1977 hit “Got To Give It Up."