Bill Maher Mocks NYC Mayor Mamdani for 'Tone Deaf' Remarks on Oct. 7 Anniversary

Comedian Bill Maher used his show "Real Time" to criticize New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's statement marking the third anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. Mamdani's statement, which acknowledged the "profoundly painful" day for New Yorkers and the ongoing grief, also condemned Israel's subsequent military actions in Gaza.

Mamdani stated that "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." He further wrote that "even since the so-called ceasefire, more than 1,400 Palestinians have been killed," and that "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." The mayor concluded by saying, "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." He added, "To honor the dead, we must fight for a world in which every person can live with freedom, safety, and dignity."

Maher characterized Mamdani's remarks as "not all that sympathetic to this stuff, but he did make some nice remarks about it." He interpreted the mayor's statement as, "But then he pivoted right to, ‘but Israel made them do it.’" The comedian also referenced Mamdani's past as a rapper, quipping, "You know, he used to be a rapper. His rap name was ‘Tone Deaf.’"

Mamdani also recently faced scrutiny after dining at Ayat Hinds Hall, a Palestinian restaurant whose sister location had previously been criticized for menu language described by some as antisemitic. The sister restaurant's menu had featured the phrase “Down with the occupation” in English, Arabic, and Hebrew, which its owner stated appeared before the Oct. 7 attack.

However, Democratic strategist Kaivan Shroff suggested that Maher's criticism might benefit Mamdani politically. Shroff told Fox News Digital that Mamdani's statement could be a tactic to appease his base, which has previously criticized his administration for actions such as having the NYPD protect Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and arresting protesters. According to Shroff, generating backlash from figures like Maher could solidify support from certain segments of Mamdani's constituency, who might see it as a sign that he remains aligned with their views.

The Mamdani administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.