De Blasio Booed Before Lighting Rockefeller Center Tree

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — Spectators at the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting greeted Mayor BIll de Blasio with a new holiday carol: "Jingle Boos." Some in the crowd of thousands jeered at the mayor Wednesday night right before he hit the switch to illuminate the Midtown plaza's 72-foot tree.

The boos rang out after iconic weatherman Al Roker announced de Blasio's name. They were loud enough to be heard on video of the event, which NBC televised across the nation.

Whether he heard them or not, the mayor just smiled and waved as he stood with real estate executives Jerry Speyer and Rob Speyer, who were also on hand to light the tree.

The crowd seemed happy after the trio did their ceremonial duty — cheers erupted after the tree's 50,000 lights were turned on.

Wednesday wasn't the first time de Blasio has gotten an unfriendly reception at a holiday event. The mayor was booed as he marched through the 2017 Columbus Day Parade, where some demanded the landmark Columbus Circle statue stay put. He was also heckled at a July 4 parade on Staten Island that year, according to the New York Daily News.

Watch de Blasio light the tree below.

(Lead image: Mayor Bill de Blasio lights the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree on Wednesday. Photo by Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office)