Actor Debra Messing wrote an Islamophobic comment on her Instagram in reference to New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, claiming that he “celebrated” 9/11.
“I have nothing against Socialism, don’t know where you got that,” Messing, who is known for her role in the sitcom “Will & Grace,” wrote in an Instagram comment replying to a user who called her out for sharing a reel denouncing socialism. “I voted against M because he celebrated 9/11. Let that sink in. I love my country. My reasoning is not Islamophobia. I’ve chosen to live in the most beautifully diverse city in the world. The same people who did 9/11 did Oct. 7. I just don’t want a mayor who sides with terrorists. Oh and he wants to defund the police. And he has no experience. I’ll stop here.”
If elected in November, Mamdani, a democratic socialist and state assemblyman who was born and raised in Uganda before moving to New York City at age 7, would become New York City’s first Muslim mayor. Since his primary win Tuesday, he has faced an influx of Islamophobic threats on social media — some from far-right figures, like Laura Loomer, who wrote on social media that because of his win, New York will face another 9/11.
Messing’s claim that Mamdani, who was 9 years old in September 2001, “celebrated” 9/11 and sides with terrorists seemingly comes from a rap song he wrote in 2017, in which he praised the now-defunct Islamic charity Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development. The five leaders of the group were convicted in 2009 of “providing material support to Hamas,” which the U.S. recognizes as a foreign terrorist organization. A number of human rights organizations in 2022 called for the pardon of the five leaders on the basis that money went to social programs run by Palestinian charities and did not directly fund Hamas.
Mamdani has been critical of Israel’s government, accusing it of committing a genocide in Gaza. His criticism of Israel has led some to call him antisemitic.
“I’ve said at every opportunity that there is no room for antisemitism in this city, in this country,” Mamdani, who also said it “pains” him to be “called an antisemite,” said last week. “I’ve said that because that is something I personally believe.”
Representatives for Messing and Mamdani did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, who is Jewish and ran against Mamdani for Democratic candidate for New York City mayor, wrote on social media that threats against Mamdani are “morally reprehensible.”