Zack Weiner explains why his marketing campaign flagged his BDSM video

The Metropolis Council candidate whose marketing campaign flagged footage of his personal BDSM session to The Put up mentioned Monday that he was making an attempt to get forward of a political rival plotting to make use of the clip towards him — and that he’s not ashamed of his sexual proclivities.

Higher West Sider Zack Weiner, 26, mentioned that the video — which exhibits him gagged as a leather-clad dominatrix ex pours sizzling wax on him and clips clothespins to his nipples — was already circulating on Twitter and attracting the eye of constituents and opponents when his marketing campaign spoke up.

“There was concern raised by an opponent … reflecting on my poor judgment,” Weiner informed The Put up on Monday, declining to determine the race rival.

“I don’t really feel that in the end this can be a unsuitable factor that I did. … That’s why I really feel comfy,” added Weiner of the BDSM session, explaining that he wished “folks to listen to me articulate it, relatively than my opponent.” 

Joe Gallagher, Weiner’s marketing campaign supervisor, added that he stands by the choice to take management of the narrative relatively than enable it to be fodder towards Weiner.

“We’d heard from candidates and constituents having seen it, so it was a type of issues the place I believed it might be a extremely good factor to achieve out to a reporter to handle it,” Gallagher mentioned Monday. “We had no qualms with the best way The Put up dealt with all of it.”

Although he beforehand recognized himself as a “proud BDSMer,” Weiner mentioned Monday that earlier than the video surfaced he stored the kink amongst a good circle of mates.

It was “not one thing I used to be very public with … [but] undoubtedly not one thing I’d say that I discover embarrassing,” he mentioned.

Weiner mentioned that he was conscious that the steamy session with a then-girlfriend, which went down about 18 months in the past in a dungeon at Midtown Manhattan’s Parthenon studio, was being recorded, however that he by no means anticipated the footage to see the sunshine of day.

“That wasn’t a proclivity of mine and it’s undoubtedly not the norm,” he mentioned of the filming. “It was extra to her style, the particular person I used to be seeing on the time, to movie recreationally.”

Weiner mentioned that he believes that the previous flame — whose identification he declined to reveal — shared the video amongst mates who’re “additionally within the scene” when he launched his marketing campaign, and that a type of mates leaked it onto social media.

“It’s definitely put a pressure on the friendship,” mentioned Weiner of his relationship together with his ex, including that he would “recognize an apology,” and that he’s not dominated out authorized motion towards whoever leaked it on-line.

Whereas not ashamed of his kink, Weiner mentioned that the incident has left him with second ideas about letting companions hit “document” throughout intimate moments.

“Yeah, I’m giving a fantastic pause,” he mentioned.

Now, Weiner — who has a marketing campaign rally scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday on the Higher West Aspect’s Verdi Sq. to tout “start-up retail and common primary funding”— is making an attempt to juggle the twin pressures of a Metropolis Council race and the fallout of the video’s leak.

“They’ve caught by [me] and been vocal,” mentioned Weiner of his supporters and even a few of his rivals within the District 6 race, together with Maria Danzilo.

Additionally standing by Weiner’s aspect are a gal pal he’s lately began seeing — “She’s not decisively upset” over the video, he mentioned — and his father, who’s a co-creator of the beloved kids’s present “Dora the Explorer.”

“On my father’s finish, he’s extra [concerned] from the ‘Dora’ angle … than on a private degree,” Weiner mentioned.

“I’ve been pleasantly stunned it’s not a adverse response,” he continued of the final reception, although noting, “I haven’t been to synagogue but.”

Weiner, a former scholar at Manhattan’s elite Ramaz Faculty — a Trendy Orthodox Jewish establishment — mentioned that he’s nonetheless ready to see how the salacious clip performs out among the many non secular group.

“A variety of my mates are married,” he mentioned, noting that the story was picked up by the Jerusalem Put up. “It’s a vivid departure from the courting stream.”

He added that he’s “been having flashbacks” concerning the rabbi who served as headmaster at his college, and is anticipating to listen to from him.

“That one’s a priority,” he mentioned. “I’m ready for the shoe drop.”