Actor Michael Rapaport revealed to comedian Bill Maher on his ‘Club Random’ podcast that his wife has experienced numerous incidents of harassment in New York City during the past two to three years. These incidents include being groped in Times Square, having a shoe thrown at her, and being called the n-word, all occurring between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. in Manhattan. Rapaport expressed his concerns over public safety, emphasizing that it’s unacceptable for women to feel uncomfortable during the day in a city often praised as the greatest on Earth.
During the discussion, Rapaport criticized the state of safety in New York City, stating that it’s not cool for women to feel uncomfortable during the daytime hours. He added that incidents involving police officers, such as those who touch them or engage in criminal activities, should be met with serious consequences. Rapaport was particularly outraged by the recent news of a homeless man proposing to a woman on a train, which he described as a troubling trend.
In addition to discussing the safety of the city, Rapaport brought up the upcoming mayoral election in New York City. He expressed his views on the candidates, criticizing Zohran Mamdani as the frontrunner for the position, despite his concerns over the candidate’s stance on Hamas. Rapaport also suggested that Curtis Sliwa should consider dropping out of the race, adding that he felt some ‘energy’ for Andrew Cuomo, the former New York Gov.
Rapaport called out Mamdani for initially refusing to say that Hamas should disarm and give up leadership in Gaza, which led to a flip-flop in the candidate’s position during the mayoral debate. The actor expressed confusion over the candidate’s change of heart, stating that it was baffling to see such a shift in stance.
These comments highlight the ongoing debate over public safety in New York City and the political landscape of the mayoral election. Rapaport’s criticisms not only focus on the safety of women but also on the political figures vying for the mayor’s office, indicating his broader dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs in the city.