Will & Grace star Debra Messing faces major backlash for brutal message to Zohran Mamdani
Zohran Mamdani’s historic election as New York City’s mayor, the first who is Muslim and South Asian, generated significant controversy. His victory at age 34, defeating independent Andrew Cuomo, was quickly overshadowed by a wave of identity-based criticism.
The political backlash echoed the inflammatory rhetoric previously directed at figures like Kamala Harris, shifting focus from policy to prejudice. Among the most prominent critics was actress Debra Messing, a Brooklyn native and vocal political commentator.
Messing, who had supported Cuomo, ignited a firestorm by reposting a meme to her one million followers. The post labeled Mamdani a “communist jihadist” and framed the election as a conflict between “democracy and extremism.”
This action drew immediate and widespread outrage across social media. Critics accused Messing of promoting racism and Islamophobia, arguing her language reinforced dangerous stereotypes about Muslim Americans.
Some defenders contended she was merely criticizing Mamdani’s political ideology, not his faith. However, the backlash intensified when she shared another post that offensively referred to him as “Osama Bin Mamdani.”
In his victory speech, Mamdani addressed the campaign’s tone without naming Messing. He declared he would not apologize for being young, Muslim, or a democratic socialist, speaking to a broader narrative of resilience.
While Messing’s remarks did not change the election’s outcome, they fueled an essential public discussion. The incident highlighted ongoing tensions over language, prejudice, and the influence of public figures in a diverse democracy.
