“Saturday Night Live” cast member Sarah Sherman is facing criticism after a weekend sketch appeared to blur the line between comedy and political campaigning. Social media users accused the comedian of using her platform on NBC to promote Democratic New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani while mocking his critics.

A Controversial Sketch

On Saturday’s “Weekend Update,” Sherman performed in character as “Rhonda LaCenzo,” a manic Long Island woman who expressed over-the-top fears about Mamdani. Her character referred to him as a “hipster jihadist,” accused him of being “an ISIS-trained millennial nepo baby from Uganda,” and even confessed to Islamophobia and sexual fantasies about the candidate.

The overblown character was meant as satire, but critics online said the sketch unfairly dismissed those who oppose Mamdani. A pro-Israel X account called The Persian Jewess wrote, “I’m not an expert, but letting her use NBC airtime to promote Mamdani and mock his critics seems like a deliberate attempt to bypass the FCC’s Equal Time rule.”

The FCC’s Equal Time rule requires broadcasters to offer political candidates comparable opportunities if one is given airtime. While comedy sketches typically fall outside the regulation’s direct scope, Sherman’s open involvement with Mamdani’s campaign sparked a larger conversation about media influence.

From Stage to the Campaign Trail

Adding fuel to the controversy, the account paired the sketch with a clip of Sherman from June, when she actively campaigned for Mamdani. In the video posted on her Instagram, Sherman stood beside the candidate and encouraged New Yorkers to vote for him in the Democratic primary.

“Election Day is tomorrow. Please go vote. I really want you to be the mayor, because it’s too frickin’ expensive to live here,” Sherman told him, before asking about housing costs. Mamdani replied by touting his platform: freezing rent for more than two million tenants, speeding up transit, expanding childcare, and criticizing former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Sherman added, “That guy is a creep and a pervert, and he resigned in disgrace.”

The clip resurfaced after her “SNL” appearance, leading The Persian Jewess to conclude, “Sarah Sherman, who starred in the controversial SNL pro-Mamdani sketch, has been openly campaigning for him for months.”

Political Stakes Rising

Mamdani has since won the Democratic nomination and is widely favored to become New York City’s next mayor. Current Mayor Eric Adams dropped out of the race last month, and Andrew Cuomo remains in contention despite his previous resignation amid scandal.

While Sherman’s sketch was likely intended as comedy, critics argue that her activism raises questions about fairness and balance in mainstream media, especially as Mamdani’s candidacy touches on sensitive issues in the city’s Jewish and Muslim communities.