A bizarre online narrative has emerged blaming New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for the New York Mets' dramatic losing streak, after he hugged the team's mascots at Citi Field. The Mets have lost 11 consecutive games since the April 9 encounter, their worst run since 2004, prompting jokes about a 'curse' among fans and media figures.
Fox News host Sean Hannity amplified the theory on his show, citing the video of Mamdani embracing Mr. and Mrs. Met before the slide. 'It's kind of hard to lose 11 games in a row in baseball, but he pulled it off,' Hannity said. The New York Post ran the headline 'Curse of the Mambino' on its front page, referencing the infamous 'Curse of the Bambino' that supposedly plagued the Boston Red Sox for 86 years.
The Mets started the 2026 season 7-4, even after losing outfielder Juan Soto to injury. But since the mascot hug, they have been swept by the Athletics, Dodgers and Cubs. The losing streak is particularly painful given the team's huge spending, with a total payroll of roughly $507 million including luxury tax.
Some fans, like Bronx resident Nelson Berrios, claimed the mayor brought 'bad juju'. 'Nobody touches Mr Met, only Mrs Met, that’s it,' he said. Critics joked that Mamdani, who supports higher taxes on the wealthy, was 'squeezing the mojo' out of the Mets. However, sceptics noted the team's history of underperformance, with one fan writing: 'It’s the Mets. I don’t think hugging Mamdani really mattered.'
Mamdani addressed the 'curse' while announcing a new early childhood education initiative. 'I'll accept being addressed as Mayor Mambino for the day,' he joked, adding that he is 'keeping the faith' for the rest of the season.
