"Anti-Israel Influencers": Mayor-Elect Mamdani Appoints Ms Rachel and Cynthia Nixon to Key Committee

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has ignited a fresh wave of criticism just one week before his official swearing-in on January 1, 2026. The controversy centers on his selection of children’s YouTube star Rachel Griffin Accurso, better known as Ms Rachel, and "Sex and the City" actress Cynthia Nixon for his inaugural committee. While Mamdani claims he is building a creative team for an inauguration that is truly by and for New Yorkers, Jewish community leaders argue these appointments demonstrate a blatant disregard for their safety and concerns.

Ms Rachel, who commands a massive audience of millions of parents and children, has been accused by the StopAntisemitism movement of parroting Hamas propaganda and ignoring the plight of Jewish children murdered or abducted during the October 7 massacre. Liora Rez, executive director of the organization, told the New York Post that the influencer consistently echoes disinformation and has used her massive platform to spread Hamas aligned views. Despite the accusations, Ms Rachel has defended herself, stating that she condemned Hamas and war crimes while emphasizing that she cares deeply about all children, including Palestinian and Israeli youth though she never mentions the latter.

Cynthia Nixon is also facing intense scrutiny for her history of BDS activism and her decision to go on a hunger strike for Gaza just one month after the October 7 massacre while hostages were still being held by terrorists. Although Nixon eventually described the actions of Hamas as brutal and unforgivable during a television appearance, critics maintain her political stance remains one sided and harmful. Both women were recently nominated for the Antisemite of the year list by monitoring groups due to their public activism.

The concerns regarding the new administration extend beyond these two celebrities. The Anti-Defamation League issued a detailed report finding that at least 20 percent of Mamdani’s appointees have a documented history of engaging in anti-Israel or antisemitic rhetoric. This follows a recent scandal where Catherine Almonte Da Costa, Mamdani’s director of appointments, was forced to resign after social media posts surfaced in which she referred to money hungry Jews. As the city prepares for a large scale street party to celebrate the transition of power, Jewish residents fear that these appointments mark the beginning of a deeply alienating era in New York City politics.