A Sarasota County mayor is explaining a photo that’s floating around social media.
The photo shows Venice Mayor John Holic appearing to grope a woman who was dressed as a pirate. Mayor Holic says it was a setup.
The mayor acknowledged it happened, but explained that it was about a year ago. He said he was having a glass of wine with his wife when people dressed as pirates came by.
He said a woman in the group asked to have her photo taken with the him and she placed his hand on a balloon that was under her blouse.
“Not being a social media person and being there with my wife, I just figured it was a group of people out having fun; I never thought about someone setting me up,” said the mayor.
Offensive? Photo @CityofVeniceFL Mayor Holic during pirate invasion. Holic: it was a balloon & he’s been set up pic.twitter.com/6o5IlGcbLr
— Isabel Mascareñas (@IMascarenas) December 7, 2017