Pete Davidson did not hold back when he delivered a straightforward message to New York City’s Mayor, Zohran Mamdani. On “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Davidson expressed his frustration over the city’s handling of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE). Kimmel mentioned to Davidson, a lifelong resident of New York City, that Mamdani would follow as the night’s guest.
Davidson’s immediate plea was simple. “Could he fix the ‘f—–g BQE, please?” the comedian exclaimed, receiving loud cheers from the audience. The BQE, which runs through Brooklyn and Queens, has long been criticized for its persistent traffic and crumbling infrastructure.
“The BQE has been under construction since before I was born,” Davidson continued, emphasizing his frustration over the ongoing neglect. He commented on the lack of visible progress, saying it seems like the workers are “standing there eating a sandwich or on the phone.” Davidson suspected corruption, hinting, “I don’t know what mob front, but just fix it, please.”
Kimmel assured Davidson that he would raise the issue with Mamdani. During Mamdani’s segment, Kimmel conveyed Davidson’s question. Mamdani responded by detailing his administration’s BQE Central Project, a $4 billion initiative aimed at rehabilitating the critical section of the expressway by 2030.
“Going to put a multi-billion dollar plan into action,” Mamdani shared, explaining their approach to repairing the most at-risk portions without disrupting local neighborhoods. This response prompted a humorous exchange from Kimmel, suggesting Davidson’s future children might face similar frustrations.
Mamdani, a Democratic socialist, surprised many with his mayoral win last November through a strong social media and grassroots campaign. He took office on January 1. Although Davidson typically approaches politics humorously, he has been vocal about his criticisms of past President Donald Trump and support for Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election.
In a recent Variety interview, Davidson revealed he is removing nearly all of his tattoos. “They were f—-n’ horrible,” he said, explaining that it was both a business decision and a personal evolution. Some tattoos covered scars from past self-harm. However, he intends to retain his tattoo of Clinton, calling her “my hero.”