'Disgusting!': 'New York Times' slammed after crossword puzzle resembles swastika
Several people are calling out the New York Times after the shape of its Sunday crossword puzzle resembled a swastika.
Twitter users slammed the American newspaper on Dec. 18, with many people calling the Sunday edition of its puzzle "disgusting" and "shocking," with some noting that it was published before the first evening of Hanukkah.
The puzzle, titled "Some Theme's Missing," was created by Ryan McCarty, a Washington, D.C.-based consulting manager who has previously created 22 other puzzles for the paper.
"He started this grid in the middle and worked his way out, stirring in a heap of fresh, lively vocabulary, including 20 debut entries," a New York Times article said.
Folks are making hay over today's @nytimes crossword layout. If the swastika is unintentional, you'd think an editor along the way would have caught it. And on the first day of Hanukkah, no less. 🙄
And the clue for 1 across just salts the wound. pic.twitter.com/coNVkgrLUv— D Christian Harrison (@dcharrison) December 18, 2022
This is the NYTimes crossword puzzle today on the first day of Hanukka.
What the hell, @nytimes? pic.twitter.com/kNBs8RjyJJ— Keith Edwards (@keithedwards) December 18, 2022
Other people have pointed out that the @nytimes crossword has an interesting layout this week. I thought, “There’s no way this actually made it to print.” I had just bought the print copy… and we’ll shit. I did nahtsee that coming. (This is real, I just took the photo) pic.twitter.com/j7OPp3UDyr
— Zach D Roberts - Photojournalist for hire (@zdroberts) December 18, 2022
Why does the @nytimes crossword look like that??? 😬😬 pic.twitter.com/896oh90WjC
— Louie Dean Valencia (@BurntCitrus) December 18, 2022
Today’s New York Times crossword is um…making me nervous. pic.twitter.com/73CafLiy3Z
— Blake Flayton (@blakeflayton) December 18, 2022
Hundreds of people also commented on the New York Times's article for the new crossword puzzle.
"Count me in as one of the many commenters who immediately saw the swastika," wrote one person. "It would be good if the puzzle editors addressed this and someone takes responsibility. Who cares if it was 'unintentional'? Isn't that what editors are for?"
"Take the Swastika down. You exhibit bad taste considering the increased rate of antisemitism in the U.S. now," someone else commented.
"I didn't actually look at the overall design until I finished the puzzle but then was shocked. ... This is the third incident, they were called out for similar designs in 2014 and 2017, so if it isn't intentional, this is extremely careless considering it has happened before," another commenter added. "One would think you'd make sure your design isn't featuring a prominent hate symbol after having already made that mistake. The NYT really does need to address this publicly, especially considering this has happened on the start of Hanukkah."
In 2017, the official New York Times Games account shared a tweet explaining that crossword puzzle from that year wasn't how it appeared.
Yes, hi. It's NOT a swastika. Honest to God. No one sits down to make a crossword puzzle and says, "Hey! You know what would look cool?"
— New York Times Games (@NYTGames) October 28, 2017
In a section titled, "constructor notes," Ryan McCarty shared his excitement about his Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle debut.
"Thrilled to have my first Sunday puzzle in The Times! This grid features one of my favourite open middles that I've made as it pulls from a variety of subject areas," McCarty shared. "I had originally tried to make it work in a 15x15 grid but then decided to expand the grid out to a Sunday-size puzzle with a fun whirlpool shape. Hope you enjoy!"
