Eric Adams Cucumber Photo Sparks Healthy-Eating Buzz

Eric Adams’ cucumber photo turned into an online spectacle this week after the former New York City mayor posted a shirtless selfie holding an XL cucumber and a red bell pepper to promote healthy eating. The post quickly drew jokes, praise, and debate over whether the image was a serious wellness message or a deliberate attention grab.

In the post on X Friday, Adams wrote, “65 years old and I’ve never been in better shape!” He said that a few years before he became mayor, diabetes nearly cost him his eyesight, and that he changed his diet, changed his lifestyle, and changed his life. Adams, a centrist Democrat, also said he and his 29-year-old son, Jordan Coleman, have a competition to see who will be in the best shape of their lives by their upcoming Virgo birthdays. “My secret weapon: VEGGIES,” he added, along with crying-laughing, cucumber and pepper emojis.

Adams framed the post as more than a joke, writing that the photo was not only about showing off, though he admitted that may have been part of it. He said it was meant to show what is possible when someone takes control of health and urged people to eat their vegetables. The message fit a broader image Adams has long tried to project, with wellness and personal discipline often tied to his political brand.

The reaction came fast. Former congressman George Santos responded with a crude joke, while progressive activist Nomiki Konst suggested “Only Fans.” Other users questioned whether the image had been altered, and one account even posted what appeared to be an AI-generated version of Adams’ original picture with the pepper replaced by a giant bottle of baby oil. Some commenters treated it as a full-fledged thirst trap, while others simply marveled at how unusual the moment was.