Hamptons mayor sparks outrage after spotting short-haired lesbian during livestream and branding her a 'creature'

Published: 17:46, 15 April 2026 | Updated: 17:49, 15 April 2026 A Hamptons mayor has refused to resign after sparking outrage by calling a woman a 'creature' in a viral social media comment, as an official probe found his conduct may go far beyond a single remark. Sag Harbor Mayor Tom Gardella has come under fire after commenting on an Instagram video posted by a Texas animal rescue founder Rebecca Chavez, which showed her dancing with her wife, Deanah, in the background. 'What's that thing in the background? A guy? A girl? Some creature?' Gardella wrote from his personal account, appearing to refer to Chavez's short-haired wife. In a follow up video, Chavez later identified Gardella as the mayor of Sag Harbor after matching his private Instagram account to his public Facebook profile. Chavez called him out directly, writing: 'Oh, Tom, you should know better.' 'This is a master class in pettiness and accountability,' Chavez added. 'If you're going to comment mean things, please be prepared for the consequences.' Chavez also tagged Gardella’s account and included his email address in the caption.  'I would expect an elected official and Christian man like yourself to behave better. Maybe we need to send him a few emails to remind him that his behavior is unbecoming of a public servant.' Sag Harbor Mayor Tom Gardella is under fire after calling a short-haired lesbian a ‘creature’ in a comment on a viral Instagram video Chavez identified Gardella as the mayor of Sag Harbor after matching his private Instagram account to his public Facebook profile Gardella initially appeared to defend the comment, claiming he was referring to a dog in the video, but the explanation was widely dismissed online. He later apologized, saying he did not intend to offend anyone, though Chavez rejected it. 'All he had to do was scroll. But he didn't,' she told the East Hampton Star. 'He made a terrible comment and I brought attention to it.' The remark quickly went viral, with Chavez saying it left her partner feeling 'lesser than a human being' and prompted widespread backlash against the Long Island official. 'Comparing someone to a creature or a thing kind of took me back a little bit,' Chavez told News 12. 'We shouldn't be used to these kind of comments but we are,' she said. 'Elected officials should be held at a higher standard.' Despite mounting pressure, Gardella has refused to step down. 'I will not resign from the office of mayor. That is not going to happen,' Gardella said during Tuesday's board meeting. 'I'm not the guy who runs from a crisis. I'm the guy who runs into it.' 'The residents of this village came to me and asked me to lead them. I hope I can lead us out of this mess and at some point be able to work together with the board.'  The fallout has since intensified.  Gardella has refused to resign despite the board of trustees voted to censure him and urged him to step down An aerial view of Sag Harbor, New York A forensic budget review prepared by village trustees Ed Haye, Aidan Corish, Jeanne Kane and Bob Plumb, in consultation with Village Attorney Liz Vail, found Gardella violated the village's social media and anti-harassment policies, according to findings reviewed by the board. Trustees voted to formally censure the mayor and distance themselves from his comments, warning they had negatively impacted members of the community and created the impression that village leadership does not support diversity. All four board members also voted in favor of a resolution urging Gardella to resign, a request he rejected. The controversy has also exposed broader concerns about his leadership. A separate internal review accused Gardella of a pattern of procedural avoidance and breach of fiduciary duty in handling the village budget, including allegedly pushing through unvetted salary increases that could have cost taxpayers millions over time. Officials also linked his conduct to a toxic work environment, with one longtime village employee resigning after more than 16 years, describing the situation as untenable. Gardella, who was sworn in as mayor in 2023 after previously serving as deputy mayor and a village trustee, has agreed to undergo social media and anti-harassment training but has shown no sign of stepping aside. Sag Harbor's defiant leader took office following a local election and has longstanding ties to the community, including his role as a former Sag Harbor fire chief. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. 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