On Sunday, April 27, Andrew Cuomo, campaigning in Brooklyn as mayoral candidate for NYC, was verbally assaulted by the performance artist and shock interviewer Crackhead Barney, known for her satirical and provocative interventions in public spaces. The incident occurred as Cuomo was leaving the Bethesda Healing Center Church. Barney shouted provocative phrases clearly referring to the sexual harassment scandal that in 2021 led Cuomo to an investigation and ultimately to his resignation as governor.
Cuomo ignored the scene and headed back to his car as church members blocked the woman from approaching.
After the incident, Cuomo’s staff reaffirmed his commitment to a safer and more equitable city, also reiterated in a post on X: “It doesn’t have to be this way. Together we can build a safe and equitable city for every New Yorker.”
Barney, who has withheld her real name from the public to prevent doxing, then posted a video of the episode on social media, igniting a debate about the boundaries between artistic freedom and respect for personal dignity, including in relation to past allegations against Cuomo.
Despite the episode, the former governor remains one of the leading candidates in the Democratic primary for mayor.
