A man dressed as a giant purple bong sings at a City Hall meeting
After a short introduction, “Bon Holeo” sang a song that would get you stoned to the beat of Lizzo’s “About Dumb Time.”
A township meeting held in New Jersey on July 7th featured bizarre public comments, including a man dressed as marijuana paraphernalia performing a song.
On Tuesday, July 7, an unidentified man wearing a large purple bong costume performed a freestyle during a Cranford, New Jersey, County Commission meeting, after which another man was arrested for speaking beyond the five-minute time limit.
The costumed man, who called himself “Bon Horeo,” spent several minutes freestyling a song about being a Bon. The man did not mention specific items on the committee’s agenda.
Before his performance, which was met with thunderous applause from the audience, the man held up a baby doll also wearing a Bon costume and introduced the character as his baby, “Bon Horita.”
The man told the committee, “My wife left the child with me.” “Unfortunately, my wife, Pink Holeo, couldn’t be here.”
After his performance, the man thanked the committee and audience and left the podium.
Man arrested for disrupting meeting
Following “Bon Horita,” 52-year-old William Tilley took to the stage holding a homemade sign that read “Reject Government Abuse,” according to a Cranford Police Department news release and a video recorded at the rally. On stage, Tilly performed two songs and spoke about widespread abuses by the government. Tilley made headlines last year for quietly breakdancing at a Cranford Township Commission meeting.
After the allotted five minutes to speak, Tilly continued to sing despite receiving three verbal warnings from the committee. Two Cranford Police Department officers then approached Tilley and asked him to escort him out of the conference room, according to video taken during the meeting and a news release from the department.
As officers escorted Tilley from the room, Tilley “physically disrupted the officers by intentionally falling to the ground,” resulting in an injury to the officer’s knee that required medical evaluation at an area hospital, the news release said.
Tilley was charged with disrupting a public gathering, third-degree aggravated assault on a police officer, obstructing law enforcement and resisting arrest, according to a police department news release. Tilley has been released from custody and is awaiting a court appearance.
“The vandalism has escalated to the point where other spectators feel unsafe and feel their concerns are being overshadowed by the antics of a few,” Cranford Mayor Kathleen Prunty told USA TODAY on July 10. “No one was denied the right to speak, sing, or dance for five minutes, but they continued to refuse to be seated, turn off loud music, throw beach balls, or perform other stunts that would prevent others from entering.” This is not a nightclub or karaoke bar. ”
The Cranford Police Department and the Cranford County Commission did not immediately respond to USA TODAY inquiries on July 10 seeking comment about the July 7 meeting or Tilley’s case.
This story has been updated with new information.
Greta Cross is USA TODAY’s national trends reporter. Story ideas? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.
