‘Friends’ star Michael Rapaport plans to challenge NYC Mayor

Actor and podcaster Michael Rapaport has announced that he plans to run for mayor of New York City in 2029, sharply criticising newly Mayor Zohran Mamdani just days after Mamdani took office.

“I, Michael Rapaport, will be running for mayor of New York City in 2029,” the Friends star said in a video posted to Instagram on Monday.

Taking aim at the current mayor, Rapaport added, “You got ‘Zohran the moron’ now. But have no fear, Mayor Rapaport will be here.”

Emphasising his New York roots, the 55-year-old actor said his campaign would be based on a blunt message.

The Higher Learning actor continued, “I will be running my campaign on the fact that nothing will be free, I will do my best to make New York City affordable, but you will be getting nothing for free.”

Rapaport also promised candor from City Hall. “I’m not gonna lie to you. I’m not gonna bulls--- you,” he said. 

Outlining his priorities, the Prison Break actor added, “I will do my best to make New York City safe, affordable and thriving. Every single time I make a mistake, I will acknowledge it, I will apologize and I won’t do [it] with a s---eating grin.”

For the unversed, Mamdani, a former state Assembly member, was sworn in as mayor on January 1.

Last year, he said he would not use the phrase “globalise the intifada,” though he stopped short of fully denouncing it.

Moreover, in a July interview with NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo, Michael Rapaport criticised Zohran Mamdani’s stance, saying, “Whether he wins or loses, it is a slap in the face that this person will not even have the decency and the courage to articulate exactly what ‘globalize the intifada’ means.”