Bill Maher stirred up controversy on his HBO show “Real Time” after publicly backing former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo for mayor of New York City and brushing off Cuomo’s history of sexual misconduct allegations. He also made several remarks about Cuomo’s progressive opponent, Zohran Mamdani, that many called racially and culturally insensitive.
During Friday’s show, Maher told his audience he believed the upcoming New York City mayoral election would send a message about the direction of the Democratic Party nationwide. “I think the whole country will be watching this race to see which way the Democrats go,” he said. “No, Andrew Cuomo may not be the most exciting or inspiring candidate, but he represents something normal—and that’s what Democrats said they wanted.”
His guest, Kate Bedingfield, who previously worked as White House communications director for President Joe Biden, looked surprised by Maher’s comments. She reminded him that Cuomo’s history was far from “normal.”
In 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice released a report concluding that Cuomo had created a “sexually hostile work environment” affecting at least 13 women during his time as governor. The allegations included inappropriate touching, unwanted advances, and comments that made women uncomfortable. These accusations eventually forced Cuomo to resign in 2021.
Maher dismissed the findings, saying, “We did a deep dive because we had him on the show. A lot of it is kind of bullshit. Maybe he was just a little too handsy, a little too Italian, a little too touchy, you know?” He warned Democrats that if they kept “throwing guys like that under the bus,” they might one day end up with someone much worse.
Bedingfield disagreed, saying that Zohran Mamdani brought energy and diversity to the party. She said his campaign had inspired a new generation of voters and created healthy debate within the party. She argued that his victory could actually be a positive sign for Democrats.
Maher, however, pushed back hard. He questioned Mamdani’s dual citizenship with Uganda, saying Uganda was a country “where they kill homosexuals.” Bedingfield challenged him, asking, “So someone who’s a dual citizen can’t be mayor of New York?”
Maher didn’t back down. He said he personally would renounce citizenship from a country that had such a “government policy.” Uganda has come under international criticism for its harsh anti-LGBTQ laws, including the death penalty for certain same-sex acts.
Bedingfield accused Maher of echoing racist and fear-driven rhetoric promoted by Cuomo, who had recently claimed Mamdani would be “cheering” another 9/11-style attack if one happened under his leadership — a statement that shocked many for its blatant bigotry.
Maher then referenced that Mamdani once took a photo with Imam Siraj Wahhaj, a New York mosque leader who was named as an “unindicted co-conspirator” in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing but was never charged with a crime. Maher did not mention that several prominent New York politicians, including current Mayor Eric Adams and former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, had also publicly interacted with the same imam in the past.
“I just don’t know if this is a great look for the party,” Maher said, referring to Mamdani’s candidacy. His comments drew backlash online, with critics accusing him of promoting Islamophobic and xenophobic stereotypes while excusing Cuomo’s own documented misconduct.
The episode has since sparked heated debate across social media about hypocrisy, racism, and the future of the Democratic Party, with many arguing that Maher crossed a line by using personal background and nationality to attack a political candidate.
