Mayor: Alderman should apologize for ‘offensive’ post that appeared to reference pager attacks

CHICAGO — Mayor Brandon Johnson on Wednesday said Ald. Brenden Reilly should apologize for a social media post, since removed, that appeared to celebrate the deadly pager and walkie talkie attacks in Lebanon, calling the post “beyond offensive.”

Still, Johnson said he had no authority to hold the 42nd Ward alderman accountable. He said Reilly’s City Council colleagues could censure him, if they so choose.

“Look I didn’t see the tweet,” the mayor said. “If that’s what he did that’s … beyond offensive and he should apologize for it.”

During Wednesday’s City Council meeting, Reilly posted a photo of a pager with the words “Mazol Tov” in the display on X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter. The Jewish phrase — misspelled in the shared image — is used to express congratulations.

The post drew swift criticism from several progressive alders. Pagers used by hundreds of members of the militant group Hezbollah exploded near-simultaneously Tuesday in Lebanon and Syria, killing at least nine people, including an 8-year-old girl, and wounding several thousand, officials said .

Reilly reportedly deleted the post about 20 minutes after it was posted.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.