Former New York City mayor Bill de Blasio is making a splash with his new hairstyle as he went on TV to discuss Eric Adams' corruption indictment.
De Blasio appeared on CNN to talk about his successor Adams, who was charged with five crimes in a federal corruption probe on Wednesday.
The Democrat, who served as mayor from 2014 to 2021, said Adam deserves the presumption of innocence before he is convicted.
But it was his dark hair that caught the attention of viewers, who took to social media to mock what they have called a 'bad dye job.'
One X user said: 'Bill de Blasio on CNN right now with an absolutely terrible hair dye job.'
Former New York City mayor Bill de Blasio is making a splash with his new hairstyle as he makes the TV rounds to discuss Eric Adams ' indictment
De Blasio's hair looked much whiter in 2020
Another added: 'WHO told Bill de Blasio to put that rinse job in his hair ?!'
A third added: 'de Blasio needs to lighten up on the Just For Men hair dye.'
De Blasio had his own legal issues from his time in office; last year he was ordered to pay pay $475,000 by a city ethics board that found he misused public funds on a police security detail during his failed presidential bid.
He had faced previous allegations of misusing his security detail. Months before he left office in 2021, a report by the city’s Department of Investigation found he treated the officers as a 'concierge service,' using them to move his daughter into an apartment and shuttle his son to college.
'I went through an experience with a Southern District where I saw a lot of things that did not come true despite allegations, I do think we have to be really careful here,' de Blasio said on CNN.
'We haven’t seen anything specific. We don’t know what this is yet. We haven’t heard a defense so I’m feeling very, you know, two different feelings at this moment.'
The Democrat first showed off his brunette style in October 2022, and told The New York Times that he 'never anticipated ever doing anything with hair color.'
He said his auburn shade is a little darker than he wanted, but added: 'I like feeling what I feel.'
On Thursday FBI agents entered the official residence of Mayor Adams and seized his phone, hours before an indictment detailing criminal charges against the Democrat was expected to be made public.
Adams was indicted by a grand jury on federal criminal charges of corruption and bribery among others.
The UA attorney’s office in Manhattan has declined to comment on the investigation, though it said it would announce 'significant public corruption charges' at an 11.30am news conference.
In a video speech released Wednesday night, Adams vowed to fight any charges against him, claiming he had been made a 'target' in a case 'based on lies.'
'I will fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and my spirit,' he said.
It was not immediately clear what laws Adams is accused of breaking or when he might have to appear in court.
de Blasio was spotted with noticeably darker hair at Bite NYC in Soho, New York City, NY, USA on September 27, 2023
Adams was indicted by a grand jury on federal criminal charges of corruption and bribery among others
The indictment caps off an extraordinary few weeks in New York City, as federal investigators have homed in on members of Adams’ inner circle, producing a drum-beat of raids, subpoenas and high-level resignations.
Federal prosecutors are believed to be leading multiple, separate inquiries involving Adams and his senior aides, relatives of those aides, campaign fundraising and possible influence peddling of the police and fire departments.
In the last two weeks alone, the city’s police commissioner and head of the school’s system have announced their resignations.
FBI agents had seized Adams’ electronic devices nearly a year ago as part of an investigation focused, at least partly, on campaign contributions and Adams’ interactions with the Turkish government. Because the charges were sealed, it was unknown whether they dealt with those same matters.
In early September, federal investigators seized devices from his police commissioner, schools chancellor, two deputy mayors and other trusted confidants both in and out of City Hall.
All have denied wrongdoing.