The New York Mets' dramatic early-season collapse has captured national attention, with a bizarre narrative emerging that blames New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for the team's woes. This so-called "Mamdani curse" stems from a seemingly innocent interaction at Citi Field that has spiraled into a full-blown sports superstition.
The Origins of the 'Mamdani Curse'
According to growing online speculation and media coverage, the trouble began on April 9 when Mayor Mamdani visited the Mets' home stadium. During his appearance, the mayor shared a friendly embrace with the team's mascots, Mr. and Mrs. Met. This brief moment of camaraderie has since been transformed into what fans and commentators are calling a curse responsible for the Mets' sudden 11-game losing streak.
Fox News Amplifies the Theory
Conservative commentator Sean Hannity prominently featured the theory on his Fox News program, directly linking Mamdani's mascot interaction to the team's disastrous performance. "And by the way, the New York Mets, they are on an 11-game losing streak... right after the Mayor met and hugged the team mascot, Mr. Met, at Citi Field on April 9 - a phenomenon people are calling 'the Mamdani curse,'" Hannity declared during his broadcast.
Hannity's colleague Emily Compagno joined in the criticism, quipping, "It's not enough that he has to destroy our city, but he has to destroy our sports too." The discussion occurred while Hannity was analyzing footage of Mamdani singing with former President Barack Obama at a Bronx preschool, with Hannity suggesting the mayor's political agenda involved "indoctrinating" very young children.
Historical Baseball Superstitions Resurface
The New York Post entered the fray with a Tuesday front page featuring Mamdani alongside the Mets' mascots under the headline "Curse of the Mambino." This clever wordplay references baseball's famous "Curse of the Bambino," the legendary superstition that haunted the Boston Red Sox for 86 years after they sold Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees in 1919.
Before Mamdani's fateful ballpark visit, the Mets had shown promising form with a 7-4 start to the 2026 season. Despite early injuries, including outfielder Juan Soto's calf strain on April 3, the team had built momentum with a series win over the Giants and four consecutive victories, culminating in an April 7 triumph against the Diamondbacks.
The Costly Collapse
Since that April 7 victory, the Mets have plunged into their worst losing streak since 2004, suffering 11 consecutive defeats and being swept by the Athletics, Dodgers, and Cubs. The collapse proves particularly frustrating given the team's massive financial investment, with a luxury tax payroll estimated at $381 million and an additional $126 million tax bill, bringing total spending to approximately $507 million for the season according to Associated Press reports.
Fan Reactions and Political Parallels
Mets supporters have expressed mixed reactions to the supposed curse. Bronx resident Nelson Berrios, who voted for Mamdani, told the New York Post that the mayor brought "bad juju" to the team. "When he hugged them, I was like, 'What's going on?'" Berrios explained. "Nobody touches Mr. Met, only Mrs. Met, that's it."
Some critics have drawn political parallels, joking that just as Mamdani has advocated for higher taxes on wealthy New Yorkers, he was "squeezing the mojo" out of the Mets in similar fashion. One X user commented, "The Mets are embracing Mamdani Socialism: they're spreading wins around to teams with far lower payrolls."
However, not everyone accepts the curse narrative. "I mean, it's the Mets," one skeptical X user wrote. "I don't think hugging Mamdani really mattered."
Mamdani's Response
Mayor Mamdani addressed the growing controversy on Tuesday during an announcement about a new early childhood education initiative. When questioned about the supposed curse, he responded with characteristic humor. "I'll first say that there's a lot of baseball left to be played, and I am still keeping the faith, as I know that many Mets fans are across the city - though I will accept being addressed as Mayor Mambino for the day," he joked, demonstrating he was "taking it all in stride."
The bizarre saga continues to unfold as the Mets struggle to break their losing streak, with the mayor's mascot embrace now permanently etched into the team's 2026 season narrative. Whether the "Mamdani curse" proves to be genuine baseball misfortune or merely coincidental superstition remains to be seen as the season progresses.
