Mayor Meltdown? Teen Photo Sparks Uproar

Community leaders say Inglewood’s mayor groped a teen during a photo at City Hall, while his office flatly denies any misconduct.

Story Snapshot

Activists demanded Mayor James Butts resign after an alleged groping of a high school cheerleader at a city event.
A city commissioner described a commotion and a visibly upset girl; no police report has been filed.
Butts’ office called the claim “categorically false” and described a harmless hand placement during a group photo.
Prior, disputed allegations against Butts fuel broader questions about power, accountability, and trust.

What sparked the backlash

On September 17–18, Los Angeles television reports showed Inglewood activists and community leaders urging Mayor James Butts to step down. They alleged he grabbed a teen cheerleader during a group photo at a City Hall community event. Organizer Najee Ali claimed the mayor “sexually groped a young minor,” and speakers called for an independent probe. FOX 11 reported the family had not filed a police report, citing protection of the girl’s identity.

In the same coverage, Inglewood Planning Commissioner Leonard Redway said he saw a commotion and a girl who looked upset soon after the photo. He recorded video later that night showing the mayor speaking with the girl’s father. Redway did not claim to witness the alleged touching. The station said it had not obtained video of the contact itself, leaving the central act uncorroborated by direct footage at this time.

How the mayor’s office responded

Butts’ office denied the allegation as “categorically false.” The statement said cheerleaders asked him for a photo. It said his outside hand rested on the outside shoulder of the cheerleader in front of him, and his other hand, holding two items, was behind the group. The statement said there was no sexual touching and no complaint at the time. Local broadcasts noted his office did not return their request for comment before airtime.

That firm denial sets up a credibility contest that now hinges on evidence and witnesses. Without a police report, the matter sits outside normal criminal processes. That limits formal records and slows fact-finding. Activists want an independent investigation that could preserve video, collect statements, and review logs. These steps could clarify what happened and help the city avoid a rush to judgment or a quiet shrug that leaves a cloud over all involved.

Why prior allegations matter to public trust

Past disputes color today’s reaction, even if they do not prove this claim. In 2021, a former assistant sued the city and Butts, alleging coerced sexual acts and retaliation; the city’s lawyer said the complaint was “full of salacious fabrications,” and the mayor denied coercion and harassment. In 1993, the Los Angeles Times reported the mayor’s then-wife accused him of abusing their daughter; he called the charges “patently untrue”. These contested histories raise stakes for transparency now.

Activists are calling for Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr. to resign over an allegation involving a female high school student.
I covered Thursday’s City Hall press conference.
My latest for @LAFocusNews:https://t.co/9GsXgRcMDS pic.twitter.com/EQj8tx2Mb9

— Stephen Oduntan (@IRMUnfiltered) September 18, 2026

Beyond Inglewood, research shows sexual misconduct claims against public officials often become tests of power and accountability. Partisanship and media framing can shape reactions as much as facts. Many Americans on the left and right already feel leaders protect themselves first and the public last. Clear evidence, open processes, and prompt communication are the only cures. An impartial review, with preserved footage and sworn statements, would serve the family, the mayor, and the city.