Thursday, March 5, 2026

NYC Radio: WABC's Sid Rosenberg Apologizes to Mayor Mamdani


WABC New York (770 AM) morning host Sid Rosenberg has issued a public apology to Mayor Zohran Mamdani following widespread backlash over inflammatory social media comments in which he referred to the mayor as an "America-hating, Jew-hating, Radical Islam cockroach" and a "jihadist."

The apology came on Wednesday during Rosenberg's "Sid & Friends in the Morning" show on the Red Apple Media-owned station. Rosenberg described his original post—made Monday on X (formerly Twitter) and later deleted—as "a bit over the top" and offered what he called a "heartfelt apology" to Mamdani and anyone else offended. He emphasized that he would continue criticizing politicians' policies but regretted the name-calling, noting it was "not nice to call somebody a bug" and claiming the remarks had "nothing to do with anybody’s religion or faith."

The controversy erupted after Rosenberg's post urged President Donald Trump to stop complimenting or meeting with Mamdani, amid apparent discussions on issues like affordability. The post, which garnered significant attention before its removal, drew swift condemnation for its dehumanizing and Islamophobic language.

Mayor Mamdani, New York City's first Muslim mayor, responded Tuesday by calling the comments "hateful," "dehumanizing," and part of a "painfully familiar" pattern of anti-Muslim rhetoric. Speaking at a press conference, he described being labeled a "cockroach," "jihadist," and similar terms as difficult to hear, especially given his background as a Muslim New Yorker born in East Africa. Mamdani thanked supporters and officials who spoke out but said he learned of Rosenberg's apology via social media and had not been contacted directly. He added that "time will tell" how sincere the apology was, while stressing that no amount of such attacks would alter his leadership approach.


The remarks prompted criticism from prominent figures including Gov. Kathy Hochul, who labeled them "hateful, racist, and disgusting"; NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who reportedly messaged Rosenberg personally; and groups like CAIR-NY, which called for his removal from WABC. Other officials, including Sen. Chuck Schumer, denounced the language as bigoted and Islamophobic.

Rosenberg's apology followed intense pushback, including from his station owner John Catsimatidis, though he maintained his right to policy critiques. The incident highlights ongoing tensions in New York political discourse surrounding the new mayor's tenure and broader debates over rhetoric in media and public life.
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