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 governments devastating, ongoing genocide in Gaza, in which it has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians—including more than 21,000 children."

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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.

Mamdanis 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 Mamdanis 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 previo