Media mogul Barry Diller has thrown his support behind former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s bid for New York City mayor — citing “gratitude” for the disgraced politician’s past support of the billionaire’s Hudson River real estate development.
Diller, a longtime Democratic donor, made his position clear during an off-the-record meeting with staff at IAC, the digital media company he chairs. His remarks were captured in a recording obtained by Semafor.
“I owe him gratitude for that, so I am supporting him,” Diller said, referring to Cuomo’s assistance in the creation of Little Island, a public park in Manhattan that Diller and his wife, fashion designer Diane von Fürstenberg, helped fund.
The high-profile project transformed an old pier into a striking green space on the Hudson River, and Cuomo played a role in cutting through bureaucratic obstacles to make it happen.
“New York City is in crisis — a crisis of public safety, affordability, and leadership — and we appreciate Mr. Diller’s support and confidence as Governor Cuomo fights to save our city for future generations,” a spokesperson for Cuomo told The Post.
Diller went further in his endorsement, stating, “I think he’d be a very good mayor of New York. I don’t think [current mayor Eric] Adams will or should survive politically.”
Diller also revealed his dissatisfaction with the current state of the Democratic Party, slamming Dems over their “pathetic and unfortunate” reaction to President Trump’s address to Congress last week.
Over the years, Diller has been an active political donor, primarily supporting Democratic candidates.
During Trump’s recent address to Congress, Democratic lawmakers expressed their dissent through various actions, including displaying protest signs, walking out and heckling — with Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) being escorted out after interrupting the speech.
“The Democratic Party is in complete disarray, there’s no leadership,” Diller said. He added, “These things have to get worse before they get better.”
Cuomo announced last week that he would compete in the Democratic mayoral primary, which is scheduled to be held on June 24.
Polls show that if the vote were held today, Cuomo would be the heavy favorite among a field that would presumably include Adams; the current and former city comptrollers, Brad Lander and Scott Stringer; the New York state assembly member Zohran Mamdani; and the state senator Jessica Ramos, among others.
Adams, who has faced mounting criticism over crime rates and city management, could be vulnerable to a high-profile challenger.
His tenure has also been marred by legal troubles, including a federal investigation into his campaign fundraising practices and allegations of ties to illegal foreign donors.
Cuomo’s return to politics comes after his dramatic resignation as governor in 2021 amid multiple scandals, including allegations of sexual harassment and criticism over his handling of COVID-19-related nursing home deaths.
Once a dominant figure in New York politics, Cuomo initially maintained strong Democratic support, but his departure left him politically wounded.
Since then, he has been working to rehabilitate his public image, suggesting that he was the victim of a politically motivated campaign to remove him from office.
The Post has sought comment from Diller.
