Boudin, who is facing a recall election in June, has been heavily criticized by San Francisco citizens who believe he has failed to make the city safer. According to a poll by EMC Research, nearly 70 percent of likely primary voters favor Boudin’s removal, including 64 percent of registered Democrats.

However, on Wednesday, John Legend wrote in a series of tweets that “District Attorney elections are crucial to improving our criminal legal system and 2022 is a year with thousands of races.”

“In San Francisco, CA, Chesa Boudin is fighting a recall. I endorsed Chesa for DA when he ran for election, and I support him now,” Legend wrote. “Vote No for the recall of DA @chesaboudin by June 7.”

Legend, who reportedly lives in Beverly Hills with his family, has been condemned on Twitter for his endorsement.

One user on Twitter wrote, “Love your music, John. But, you’re not from SF. Chesa’s social experiment has failed here. He needs to go.”

Another tweeted, “I believe you are mistaken in your endorsement, sir. Violent and repeat offenders aren’t being prosecuted. It’s unfair to the citizens of San Francisco. We believe in appropriate second chances for first time offenders, but at what point does public safety become a priority?”

“As a former resident of SF who lived in the wake of @chesaboudin’s destruction of the city — I couldn’t disagree more,” one user tweeted. “Anyone who believes he should stay in office need only to walk one block in SF at night & opinions will change. I wish Mr Legend did this before an endorsement.”

And another Twitter user wrote, “Ohhh John you have no idea what’s happening here. Why would you endorse him?? Why does your voice matter over the actual people of San Francisco?? Wtf?”

Crime rates in the San Francisco Bay area increased significantly in 2021, NBC Bay Area reported. The city had 56 homicides in 2021, compared to 48 in 2020 and 41 in 2019.

The report from NBC Bay Area also stated that there were 2,381 aggravated assault cases in 2021, which increased from 2,183 in 2020 but decreased from 2,547 in 2019.

Boudin was elected as district attorney in November of 2019, and NBC Bay Area also reported that more than 50 lawyers have either been fired or quit their jobs since Boudin took office.

Citizens of San Francisco have protested Boudin for several years, and in July of 2021, a petition and recall campaign was created for Boudin to be removed from office.

“The duty to enforce criminal laws, hold criminals accountable, and represent the law-abiding citizens by prosecuting and convicting is the duty of the District Attorney,” the recall campaign’s website said. “In San Francisco, this obligation to the people is from Chesa Boudin. Under Boudin, elected November, 2019, our city’s criminal justice system has instead been suspended.”

“Criminals are emboldened due to lack of accountability; those perpetrators arrested are simply let go, commit more crimes, and unfortunately, many are deadly,” the website added.

Newsweek reached out to a publicist for John Legend and Chesa Boudin’s office for comment.