Bill Maher mocks Mamdani for pivoting to Israel criticism in Oct. 7 tribute, calls it 'tone deaf'
Comedian Bill Maher took aim at New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani over his statement marking the third anniversary of the deadly Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel.
Maher used Friday's episode of "Real Time" to criticize Mamdani's statement, in which the mayor called the day "profoundly painful for so many New Yorkers" and said the city grieves "alongside our many friends and neighbors who still carry that unthinkable loss."
Mamdani went on to condemn the ongoing defensive acts being carried out by Israel, writing, "The suffering did not begin nor end that day. It instead continued through the Israeli government’s devastating, ongoing genocide in Gaza, in which it has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians—including more than 21,000 children."
The mayor continued, writing that "even since the so-called ceasefire, more than 1,400 Palestinians have been killed," adding "many New Yorkers are reckoning with this unbearable grief, and we mourn alongside them—all while knowing that our tax dollars fund these war crimes."
Mamdani also wrote, "Three years later, we must refuse to accept a world in which occupation and apartheid continue, where war crimes are met with impunity, and our federal government continues its complicity with every arms shipment."
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"To honor the dead, we must fight for a world in which every person can live with freedom, safety, and dignity," the mayor said.
Mamdani’s reaction to the anniversary did not go over well with Maher, who harshly criticized the mayor.
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"Mayor Mamdani, not all that sympathetic to this stuff, but he did make some nice remarks about it," Maher said, referring to Mamdani’s statement.
"But then he pivoted right to, ‘but Israel made them do it,’" Maher said, offering his interpretation of the mayor's remarks.
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The comedian also mocked Mamdani's past career as a rapper, during which he performed under the stage names "Young Cardamom" and "Mr. Cardamom."
"You know, he used to be a rapper. His rap name was ‘Tone Deaf,’" Maher quipped.
Mamdani also faced criticism earlier this week after dining Wednesday at Ayat Hinds Hall, a Palestinian restaurant. The restaurant's sister location drew criticism in 2023 over menu language that critics described as antisemitic.
The sister restaurant previously drew criticism after the Times of Israel reported that the front page of its menu featured the phrase "Down with the occupation" in English, Arabic and Hebrew. Owner Abdul Elenani previously said the language appeared on the menu before Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
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Democratic strategist Kaivan Shroff, however, suggested that Maher's criticism could benefit Mamdani politically.
"At first glance it could appear Mamdani missed the mark with his statement or is being ‘tone-deaf’ as Maher puts it — but I’d argue it was actually a page from the Trump playbook," Shroff told Fox News Digital.
"Mamdani’s base was criticizing him for having NYPD protect Netanyahu, keeping on Commissioner Tisch, arresting protesters, not following through on his promise to disband the Strategic Response Group," Shroff continued. "And a tweet or statement that plays to what his base wants to hear, ruffles feathers, grabs headlines and earns some backlash is a way to try and placate his supporters and seem like a fighter on key campaign issues that he has actually backed away from. "
Shroff went on to suggest Maher’s criticism of Mamdani is actually helping the mayor solidify his support from those who may have questioned his commitment to his campaign promises surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict.
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"To that end, Maher is actually helping him in responding like this," Shroff said. "For some Mamdani fans the fact that he has enraged folks like Maher is a sign that he is still the same candidate they voted for."
Fox News Digital reached out to the Mamdani administration for comment but did not receive an immediate response.