NY mayoral candidate engages in bizarre stunt by slapping rival's bottom on live television during campaign debate
In a bold move during an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity, Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate for New York City mayor, launched a sharp attack against his rivals, particularly former Governor Andrew Cuomo. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, has since gone viral on social media.
Sliwa, known for his founding of the Guardian Angels, did not hold back in his criticism of Cuomo. He compared the former governor to slapping fannies and killing grannies, a reference that seems to reference Cuomo's sexual misconduct allegations and his administration's handling of COVID-19 in nursing homes. This line quickly gained traction on social media, contributing to Sliwa’s rising profile in the race.
Sliwa also criticized the policies of Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani, although specifics of this critique were not highlighted as sharply as his other remarks. Regarding the current mayor running for reelection as an independent, Eric Adams, Sliwa labeled Adams as "damaged goods," pointing to investigations into alleged corruption within Adams' administration.
Despite the criticism, Sliwa asserted that "everybody likes Curtis Sliwa," asserting that his favorable ratings were the highest so far in the election cycle, underscoring his confidence in his campaign's momentum.
Cuomo, who served as governor from 2011 to 2021, has faced criticism for his administration's handling of COVID-19 in nursing homes, and recently stepped down amid sexual misconduct allegations. The comparison made by Sliwa has sparked debate among voters, with some praising Sliwa's boldness and others criticizing his tone.
As the race for New York City mayor heats up, it remains to be seen how Sliwa's comments will impact the election. With the primary scheduled for June, it is clear that the race is far from over.
Social-media users have been discussing Curtis Sliwa's comparison of Andrew Cuomo to slapping fannies and killing grannies, a statement that stemmed from the former governor's sexual misconduct allegations and his administration's handling of COVID-19 in nursing homes, which has increased Sliwa's visibility in the political sphere. Sliwa's comments and criticisms on Cuomo, Zohran Mamdani, and Eric Adams have been a significant part of this year's pop-culture discourse, amid the ongoing politics in New York City.
