Republicans Unhappy with Curtis Sliwa’s Comedy Skit

Some Republicans are expressing their frustration over Curtis Sliwa’s recent comedy skit involving Mayor Zoran Mandani. Sliwa, a 2025 mayoral candidate and founder of the Guardian Angels, has been accused by insiders of betraying party loyalty.

The skit aired at the Inner Circle Show, which is a charity event featuring political parodies. In it, Sliwa donned a doctor’s coat and humorously gave the Mayor an allergy shot, allowing the Mayor to finally live with his cat at Gracie’s mansion. Following this display, many within the party feel that Sliwa’s actions require reconsideration of political donations.

The skit was inspired by the real-life situation of Mayor Mandani, who is allergic to cats but had undergone multiple allergy vaccinations. These efforts were to enable him and his wife, who loves cats, to welcome pets into their home amid his campaign.

However, not all Republicans find the humor in it. Former Governor David Paterson expressed his discontent, suggesting that Sliwa’s actions were unacceptable. He stated, “I understand loyalty, but this is simply reprehensible.”

Sliwa, defending his participation, claimed that his intentions were good, emphasizing that the skit raised awareness for animal rescue. He mentioned that a member of Mandani’s team had approached him about participating, and he perceived their shared views on the importance of animal welfare.

Despite this, critics argue that Sliwa’s decision reflects poorly on his commitment to the party. One anonymous Republican operative voiced deep disappointment, suggesting that Sliwa has turned his back on his own base.

Paterson continued to express his disappointment, especially recalling Sliwa’s refusal to withdraw from the previous mayoral race to help clear the path for former Governor Andrew Cuomo, despite pressure from the party.

Fernando Mateo, who is challenging Sliwa in the Republican primary for mayor, accused him of seeking media attention at any cost. Mateo described Sliwa as “a compulsive liar” who craves the spotlight.

In response to the backlash, Sliwa expressed that his fellow Republicans were being unfairly harsh. He questioned the consistency of their outrage, pointing to past actions of Donald Trump, suggesting that party loyalty should be honored differently.

While Sliwa maintains he is not aligning closely with Mandani, he is already setting his sights on the Republican nomination for the 2029 mayoral race, asserting that this incident does not define his political relationships.