Eric Adams found himself in political hot water after appearing on a late-night livestream at Gracie Mansion with Sneako, a streamer banned from major platforms for antisemitic and misogynistic content and Amber Rose, the “S### Walk” founder and vocal MAGA supporter.
The livestream, which aired on the right-wing platform Rumble on Saturday night (June 14) at just before 10:30 p.m. and ran nearly 90 minutes, showed the New York City mayor smoking cigars and chatting casually with the group.
Critics quickly condemned the mayor’s presence alongside Sneako, who has drawn widespread condemnation for comments like “Down with the Jews” and making other antisemitic remarks, platforming Kanye West, spewing conspiracy theories and making appearances with white nationalist Nick Fuentes.
The mayor’s son, Jordan Coleman, also known as rapper Jayoo, introduced Sneako to his father during the informal hangout. Mayor Adams said the encounter unfolded organically and without any vetting.
“This was not a planned interview. I was on my back porch with [his son Jordan Coleman] smoking a cigar. Other people came and joined me, and they brought people with them, and they started engaging in a conversation. And he was one of the people that engaged in that conversation. I didn’t know his history. I don’t support anything that is criticizing any group in the city,” Mayor Adams said during a press conference Monday (June 16).
The backlash was swift. Advocacy groups and elected officials questioned why the mayor would appear alongside someone with a documented history of hate speech.
Sneako has been banned from YouTube, Twitch and Kick for violating policies related to misinformation and hate content. Mayor Eric Adams acknowledged the criticism but defended his approach to public engagement.
“Hindsight is 20-20. One of the downsides of my style of mayoralty, I engage with everyone…Maybe I’m just too optimistic that I believe there’s something good in everyone and we should try to find that,” he said.
Mayor Adams also pointed to the changing media landscape, where anyone can record or livestream interactions without notice.
“We are in a universe now that everyone is a reporter, everyone is a streamer. You don’t even know who comes up to you nowadays. People stop me on the street, they ask me a question, and I answer it,” Mayor Adams said.
Amber Rose’s presence on the stream added another layer of controversy, given her political alignment with MAGA figures and her history as a provocative media personality.
The livestream ended just before midnight, but the fallout has continued into the week.
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