Exclusive | ‘Date a Dem’ speed dating event in NYC sabotaged by ‘unhinged’ Trump supporter
A Trump supporter sabotaged a Manhattan dating event for Democrats by buying a bunch of tickets, then no-showing — leaving love-seeking lefties out of luck.
The facilitator of Date a Dem Speed Dating got a phone call from a blocked number shortly before the event — held at The Rose on West 25th Street in Chelsea on Sept. 18, the same day as Trump’s rally on Long Island — was set to begin.
“The gist of what was said by this individual was ‘F your snowflake event, we’re not coming, we’re all at the Trump rally,’” organizer Amber Soletti of Single and The City told The Post.
The saboteur bought several male tickets, so the ratios were skewed, making mingling awkward, explained attendee Keith Burgun.
“When I got there it was just me, one other guy and about 10 women,” he said.
The hopeful singles were “stunned at the situation,” said attendee Denisha McPherson, 38, a project manager from Brooklyn.
“We kind of shook our heads and said, ‘How polarized are we that someone would do something this unhinged,’” she said.
Organizers scrambled to pivot from the original format, which was for singles to go on multiple three to five-minute dates.
“So we all just sat in a circle and basically had a little discussion … things about what people’s experiences were dating and what they’re looking for,” explained Burgun, 42, a game developer who lives in Westchester.
This was the first political speed dating event ever hosted by Single and The City, which also threw a GOP Speed Dating on Sept. 25.
They were both for singles from 30 to 45 and tickets were $35.
Burgun, who graduated from SUNY Purchase with a degree in political science, said the political party of a potential partner is a deal-breaker.
“Somebody who supports the Republican party right now, I wouldn’t be able to have an intimate relationship with,” he said.
McPherson is a little more open-minded when it comes to dating a conservative.
“I would never say that I would never date a Republican,” said McPherson, who recently earned her doctorate in law and policy from Northeastern University. “It depends on the type of Republican.”
Burgun did not make a love connection, but found a potential pal. “I matched with one person as a friend, which was nice,” he said.
Soletti, who already planned the next round of political speed dating events — Date a Dem on Oct. 16 and GOP Speed Dating on Oct. 23, this time for singles in their 20s and 30s — said the first GOP dating event fared much better, with 30 people in attendance.
“We figured it’s probably due to Republicans having a harder time meeting like-minded singles in New York City, so this event theme is really appealing to them.”
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