HARLEM, Manhattan (WABC) – Twitter was sent into a frenzy over the weekend after footage from the NYPD captured video of people exiting a Drake concert at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, but the department insists it is not how it looks.
“It was a big event. Drake back at the Apollo! We want that. We want our police and community to be involved,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
It was an epic weekend at the Apollo. Drake performed in historic theater for the first time ever.
After Sunday night’s concert, fans walked up to about a dozen NYPD officers, who filmed video in front of everyone of those exiting the performance.
The five-second clip went viral, with 20 million views and counting, and angered users on social media, including Twitter, at the NYPD’s surveillance tactics.
“Well, first we have to be honest with ourselves. Twitter isn’t real and these little people who go back and forth talking to themselves all the time,” Adams said.
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In a statement to Eyewitness News, the NYPD said the officer seen in the blue jacket with the camera is from the 28th Precinct social media team and that the officer is recording video for an upcoming Twitter post , which will highlight local community events. The video will not be used for any other purpose.
They said the final Drake concert video will resemble a video created from a December toy ride.
The 28th Precinct has published highlights of local events and seeks to foster a positive relationship between the community and the NYPD.
“If you have those at home sitting in the corner of the room trying to find a reason to separate NYPD from ordinary New Yorkers, they will say so,” Adams said. “Thumbs up for this great captain in district 28. I know this district. I know this captain. He’s very community-oriented and community-centric, and I commend him for that.”
But the clip reignited concerns raised last week when Madison Square Garden admitted using facial recognition to remove litigants with actions against the arena. That prompted state legislatures to introduce a new bill Monday that would ban the use of facial recognition at sporting events.
Though the NYPD offers an explanation for why cameras are filming people exiting the Apollo, many New Yorkers still don’t believe it. That said, the NYPD still has work to do to improve community relations.
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