The New York Post has been accused of publishing a hoax story about New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, then retroactively trying to make the story seem real when they got caught.
According to Judd Legum of Popular Information, last week the Post "published a fake cover story claiming 'thousands' of 9/11 families were trying to ban Mamdani from the 25th anniversary ceremony at Ground Zero." Then, after being called out, the Post "assigned 10 REPORTERS to track down more 9/11 families who want Mamdani banned. They are now up to 10 people. The last I’ve checked, that’s not 'thousands.'"
As all of this unfolded, Legum noted, "a group representing 250 family members of 9/11 victims has condemned the effort to ban Mamdani. The Post dismisses them as a 'far-left group… trying to silence 9/11 families.'"
The whole affair earned an explosion of outrage from commenters on social media.
"So dark — the @nypost invented a story about 'thousands' of 9/11 families telling @NYCMayor Zohran to 'stay away' from the anniversary ceremony… then tried to cover it up when they got called out. (After others picked it up)" wrote The Tennessee Holler.
"Wild story. The 'thousands of 9/11 families' storyline looks like a feejee mermaid," wrote Semafor reporter David Weigel.
"The NY Post got hoaxed and reported that 'thousands' of 9/11 families had signed a petition against Mamdani," wrote Drop Site News' Ryan Grim. "After the hoax was exposed, they assigned a huge team of reporters to manufacture the fake story they already published and try to make it retroactively true. The crack team of reporters is up to ten 9/11 families. Just 1,990 to go!"
