Mayor Adams Faces Backlash Over Unvetted Meeting

So, he must have slipped in unnoticed, right?

Mayor Eric Adams acknowledged on Monday that he hadn’t thoroughly vetted the controversial influencer sneakers before they arrived at Gracie Mansion for a light-hearted late-night chat that, unsurprisingly, angered critics due to its anti-Semitic undertones.

Adams shared that the conversation happened on a laid-back Saturday evening, and he was oblivious to the problematic nature of the sneakers’ background—an unfortunate consequence of his openness to talk “with anyone.”

“I don’t really know young guys,” Adams told reporters. “I’m not really into streaming at all.”

He detailed that he was enjoying a cigar on the porch of Gracie Mansion with his son Jordan Coleman, who is a rapper and podcaster.

Nicholas “Nico” Ken de Valintzeisey, 26, whose online persona is sneakers, was among a group of unfamiliar faces, resulting in a bizarre scene with the NYC mayor sitting beside someone proclaiming “down with the Jews.”

Following the interview, prominent criticism surfaced, with reactions like those from Richie Torres (D-Bronx), who expressed his disgust on social media platforms.

While addressing reporters at a separate event alongside NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Adams insisted that the encounter was unexpected and unrelated to the department’s new quality of life initiative.

“Sneakers was part of that conversation,” Adams noted. “I didn’t know anything about his past.”

Amber Rose, a well-known influencer who previously linked herself to President Trump, was also present during the smoking session that unfolded at Gracie Mansion. Coleman mentioned that his father had dinner with Rose earlier that week and was looking forward to seeing him rehearse for a future podcast.

“I can’t figure out how sneakers ended up there!” Coleman exclaimed.

In a Twitter post reacting to reports about the evening, Rose defended sneakers and labeled the backlash as “fake news!!!”

“I’m there, and I know @sneako!!! He’s Jewish!” she posted.

Sneakers’ troubling history includes associations with figures such as a rapper banned from Twitch for hateful content, public praise for Andrew Tate, and connections with Holocaust Denier Nick Fuentes, along with controversial remarks about figures like Kanye West.

The situation grew even more complicated given Adams’ plans to seek reelection while also addressing anti-Semitism—a topic he has positioned himself against.

When questioned about whether sneakers should be more scrutinized, Adams responded with an affirmative and elaborated on his approach to engage with all New Yorkers, including students.

“Hindsight is 20-20,” he remarked.

“One criticism I often receive is that I interact with everyone,” Adams admitted. “My team often conveys their concerns, especially when they give me their phone numbers.”

Adams indicated that had he been aware of sneakers’ hateful views, he might still have opted for an interview, stating his resistance to all forms of hatred, particularly against Jews.

“I believe in engaging with people who hold different views. I’m committed to combating hatred in New York City,” he asserted.

Commissioner Tisch expressed unsolicited support for Adams’ dedication to anti-Semitism efforts, mentioning how many public figures have distanced themselves from Jewish communities, highlighting how rhetoric has shifted from frustration to incitement.