Jimmy Fallon Invites NYC Mayor Zoran Mamdani on Stage After Controversy

In a surprising turn, late-night host Jimmy Fallon invited New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani onto the stage after facing backlash for repeatedly telling the same joke about him. This unexpected appearance came during a recent taping of “The Tonight Show.”

Since December, Fallon has drawn criticism for reiterating a cold weather joke about Mamdani multiple times without acknowledging he was reusing the punchline. The joke originated on December 9, when Fallon remarked, “It was so cold in New York City this morning that I saw this Wall Street stockbroker spooning with Zoran Mamdani as I was walking to work.” He went on to deliver variations of this joke on at least two more episodes.

During the latest episode, which aired after a major winter storm, Mamdani embraced the humor surrounding the cold temperature, riffing on the punchline once more: “It’s so cold in New York City that the rent has frozen. Good night everyone.” This quip cleverly linked back to one of his key campaign promises advocating for a rent freeze.

Fallon opened with a few more cold weather jokes himself, including one about President Trump using a space heater in an MRI machine. Mamdani’s presence was unannounced, as the episode had promoted other guests like Pete Davidson and Paris Hilton.

Before departing, Mamdani took a moment to remind viewers to stay safe amid the biting temperatures, stating, “But seriously, stay inside, stay warm, and stay safe.” His arrival coincided with New York City assessing the aftermath of the winter storm that dumped over 30 centimeters of snow in some areas, resulting in at least 10 deaths. Mamdani emphasized the need for vigilance, saying, “We don’t yet know if all cases will be classified as hypothermia, but all New Yorkers need to be vigilant and look out for their neighbors.”