Actress Patricia Heaton, best known for her roles on Everybody Loves Raymond and The Middle, has sparked heated debate online after publicly supporting a petition calling for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to be barred from attending this year’s 25th anniversary commemoration of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The social media post quickly generated thousands of reactions, with supporters backing her position while critics accused the actress of unfairly targeting the mayor because of his religion and political views.
Petition Seeks to Exclude Mayor From 9/11 Ceremony
The controversy centers on a petition launched by family members of some victims of the September 11 attacks.
The petition argues that Mayor Mamdani should not participate in the official remembrance events scheduled for September, marking 25 years since the attacks on the World Trade Center.
The attacks claimed the lives of approximately 2,700 people at the World Trade Center, along with all 265 passengers aboard American Airlines Flight 11 and 65 people aboard United Airlines Flight 175, making it one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in U.S. history.
According to reports, the petition had gathered nearly 10,000 signatures when Heaton publicly endorsed it.
Patricia Heaton Voices Support
Heaton shared a post on X (formerly Twitter) highlighting the growing petition.
Responding to the post, she wrote:
“Keep it going New Yorkers.”
Her brief message was interpreted by many users as an endorsement of efforts to prevent Mamdani from attending the memorial events.
Mayor Mamdani Has Faced Criticism
Since taking office in January, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, 34, has faced criticism from some political opponents over both his Democratic Socialist policies and his attendance at public events connected to the Sept. 11 anniversary.
Some critics have also directed racist and Islamophobic remarks toward the mayor because he is Muslim, including falsely labeling him with offensive and discriminatory terms.
Social Media Backlash Follows
Heaton’s post quickly drew criticism from many social media users.
Some commenters told the actress to stay out of politics, while others questioned why she was supporting the petition.
Several users also criticized her for not speaking out about former President Donald Trump hosting Syria’s president at the White House in November 2025, arguing that she was selectively commenting on political issues.
Others told Heaton to “shut up” and suggested that her opinions on politics were unwelcome.
Critics Defend Mamdani
Many users argued that Mamdani should not be blamed for the events of Sept. 11 because he was only 9 years old when the attacks occurred.
Some comments stated that people could honor the victims without targeting someone who had no involvement in the tragedy.
Others accused supporters of the petition of promoting prejudice and religious discrimination rather than focusing on the purpose of the remembrance ceremony.
One commenter suggested that Mamdani would likely face criticism regardless of his decision, arguing that if he chose not to attend, opponents would simply criticize him for that instead.
Accusations of Bias
Several social media users described Heaton’s support for the petition as discriminatory, accusing her of contributing to rhetoric they viewed as racist or bigoted.
Others defended her right to express her opinion, illustrating the sharply divided reaction surrounding both the petition and the mayor’s planned participation in the anniversary events.
Debate Continues Ahead of 25th Anniversary
The online dispute comes as New York prepares for the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, one of the city’s most significant annual commemorations.
While the petition and the responses to it have fueled political debate online, organizers continue preparations for the memorial events that will honor the victims, survivors, first responders, and families affected by the attacks.
