New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is under scrutiny for his ties to Uncivilized Media, a Qatar-based outlet accused of propagating antisemitic conspiracy theories. He engaged with the outlet in 2023, and as of July 24, 2026, he was still following their Instagram account. By July 27, 2026, he had unfollowed it, although earlier collaborative Instagram posts from his interview remained visible on both accounts.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) highlighted several instances where Uncivilized Media shared content with antisemitic themes, such as a July 2026 video accusing Israelis of global colonization efforts. Oren Segal, the ADL’s senior vice president of counter-extremism and intelligence, noted that while Mamdani’s interviews did not focus on these conspiracies, his choice to appear on the platform raises questions among New Yorkers about his alignment with the outlet’s broader views.
“When one appears on any platform, it kind of normalizes the rest of the content that is out there,” Segal explained, emphasizing that neither he nor the ADL accused Mamdani of promoting Uncivilized Media’s content.
In the 2023 interview, Mamdani described the Palestinian issue as integral to his identity, emphasizing freedom, justice, and self-determination. He shared how his upbringing influenced his understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, focusing on empathy and solidarity. Additionally, Mamdani identified himself as a socialist, advocating for inherent solidarity between progressive and Muslim values.
The resurfacing of Mamdani’s appearances on Uncivilized Media has alarmed some Jewish New Yorkers, leading to concerns about their community’s relationship with City Hall. Segal suggested that Mamdani could ease these concerns by publicly denouncing the outlet’s antisemitic narratives.
“If Mayor Mamdani claims he is building a better New York, it is fair for Jewish residents to ask him to clarify his stance on this platform’s content,” Segal remarked.
The renewed criticism follows Mamdani’s recent remarks on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing him as a ‘war criminal’ responsible for severe actions against Palestinians. Despite these controversies, neither Mamdani’s office nor Uncivilized Media provided comments to Fox News Digital.
Rachel Wolf reports on media and culture for Fox News Digital.
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