New York City Mayor Eric Adams attends an “October 7: One Year Later” commemoration to mark the anniversary of the Hamas-led attack in Israel at the Summer Stage in Central Park on October 7, 2024, in New York City. Photo: Ron Adar/ SOPA Images via Reuters Connect

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is facing intense backlash after appearing alongside a controversial streamer known for antisemitic rhetoric, prompting outrage from Jewish leaders, elected officials, and civil rights groups who are demanding an explanation and accountability from the mayor.

The controversy erupted after Adams was seen in a livestream alongside influencer Sneako, a social media personality widely criticized for promoting antisemitic and extremist views, and model Amber Rose smoking cigars at his residence, Gracie Mansion, in New York City on Saturday. The stream, which circulated rapidly on social media, has sparked fierce condemnation from advocacy groups and political figures who say the mayor’s appearance lends legitimacy to hate speech. While City Hall has yet to issue a detailed response, critics argue the incident raises serious concerns about the mayor’s judgment and the vetting of individuals granted access to public officials.

Sneako, whose real name is Nicolas “Nico” Kenn De Balinthazy, has found himself embroiled in extensive controversies regarding his antisemitic commentary. During one of his livestreams, Sneako reportedly said, “Down with the Jews! Free Palestine” and “Every ‘conspiracy theory’ from the last century is just Israel.” The popular streamer has also said that “Israel is not compatible with Western civilization.” While chatting with antisemitic social media personality Nick Fuentes, Sneako declared that Jewish people “control all the money in the world.” He has also doubted the legitimacy of the Holocaust, questioning how Nazis “fit six million people in the gas chambers.” In a conversation with popular Jewish streamer Adin Ross, Sneako refused to condemn Adolf Hitler as “evil,” claiming that “I haven’t met the guy.”

US Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY), one of the most vocal supporters of Israel in Congress, slammed Adams for meeting with the antisemitic social media influencer. 

“The mayor is smoking cigars at Gracie Mansion with Sneako — yet another antisemite, who once declared: ‘Down with the Jews,'” Torres wrote, “Who’s next on the guest list — David Duke?”

Adams responded to the backlash on Monday.

“Maybe I’m just too optimistic, that I believe there’s something good in everyone, and we should try to find that — yes, maybe I should have reached out to the team late at night and said, ‘Hey, can you vet this person?’ but this is a challenge for me because everyone comes to me,” Adams told reporters after an unrelated press conference in Brooklyn when asked about the topic.

“And he was one of the people that engaged in that conversation,” Adams said of Sneako. “I didn’t know his history. I don’t support anything that is criticizing any group in this city.”

Despite Adams’s statement, the controversy threatens to undermine his longstanding efforts to court Jewish voters, a demographic that has been pivotal to his political success. In the 2021 mayoral race, Adams received strong support from Orthodox Jewish communities in neighborhoods like Crown Heights and Flatbush, where he won by significant margins. His alliances with influential groups such as the Satmar Chasidim and the Flatbush Jewish Community Coalition were instrumental in his victory. He has also attempted to bolster his standing among the Jewish community recently, signing an executive order on June 8 adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. 

Weeks earlier, Adams announced the creation of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism, the first office of its kind to be established in a major city that will focus on tackling “all forms of antisemitism.”

Some observers have argued that Adams’s misstep with Sneako could jeopardize the mayor’s standing among Jewish voters, especially as he faces a crowded field of challengers in an upcoming election, including former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and progressive anti-Israel candidate Zohran Mamdani.