**Will & Grace Actress Debra Messing Faces Backlash Over Controversial Meme on Election Day**
*By Joey Nolfi | Y! Entertainment | April 11, 2025*
Will & Grace actress Debra Messing has recently come under fire after sharing a political meme on Election Day that labeled New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani as a “jihadist.”
As Americans headed to the polls on Tuesday, the 57-year-old Emmy winner reposted an image on her verified Instagram Story from an account called The Persian Jewess. The meme featured an edited ballot listing two candidates: one described simply as “A Democrat. Just a Democrat,” and the other labeled “An actual communist jihadist. A literal Karl Marx-quoting, America-hating jihadist.”
The original post from The Persian Jewess included a caption stating, “This isn’t just a mayoral race. It’s the battle for Democracy itself. New York City, make the right choice. Vote for [Andrew] Cuomo. Vote for NYC. Vote for Democracy,” and concluded with the hashtag #ZohranMamdani.
Messing’s decision to share the meme sparked significant criticism on social media, with many condemning the use of the term “jihadist” to describe Mamdani, who is the son of acclaimed filmmakers Mira Nair—known for works such as *Queen of Katwe* and *Mississippi Masala*. The term “jihadist” is frequently associated with individuals who violently defend Islamic ideals, which added to the controversy.
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