The New Yorker’s decision to include political streamer Hasan Piker on the lineup for a festival roundtable has prompted swift criticism, with commentators and social media users accusing the magazine of giving a platform to a figure they say has a history of inflammatory remarks.
Piker, a 33-year-old Twitch personality and commentator, is listed as a participant in a New Yorker Festival session titled “New Political Arena,” scheduled for next month. The announcement drew attention because Piker has previously made statements that critics describe as antisemitic and supportive of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
In posts and livestreams that have circulated widely online, Piker has been quoted calling Israelis “inbred” and saying America “deserved 9/11,” remarks opponents cite in arguing that he traffics in bigotry and extremist sentiment. Critics have also pointed to comments attributed to Piker in which he appeared to downplay reports of sexual assault during the Oct. 7 attacks, saying that “doesn’t matter if rapes happened.”
Those who object to his inclusion at the New Yorker Festival say the magazine is normalizing rhetoric that targets Jewish people and the state of Israel and that mainstream media institutions should not give such figures high-profile stages. Commentators using social media called the move an example of platforming a “pro-9/11 radical” and warned against what they described as the normalization of antisemitic or anti-Zionist language.
Piker, who has built a sizeable online following as a left-leaning commentator and sells apparel under the brand Damaged Health, has been a polarizing figure in digital political media. Supporters say he is a provocative critic of U.S. foreign policy and a voice for younger progressive audiences; detractors cite his past remarks as evidence of a pattern of harassment and hateful commentary.
The New Yorker did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the decision to include Piker on the festival roster. The magazine’s festival has a history of featuring a wide range of writers, journalists and public figures in panel discussions about politics, culture and current affairs.
Debate over which speakers merit inclusion at cultural and journalistic events has intensified in recent years, with institutions weighing editorial goals, audience interests and the potential for controversy. Organizers frequently face calls both to include diverse perspectives and to exclude those whose statements some characterize as hateful or dangerous.
Organizers for other media events have at times canceled appearances or faced protests after booking contentious figures; in this case, social media backlash and commentary from critics and readers have focused on the New Yorker’s choice to list Piker among participants at a high-profile panel.
Piker’s online presence and prior statements have been widely reported across outlets and circulated in clips and screenshots. The controversy over his inclusion at the New Yorker Festival is likely to shape discussion about the session and the magazine’s curation choices as the event date approaches.