The New York Times is facing tremendous criticism for their latest Sunday crossword puzzle, which resembled a Swastika, considered to be the principal symbol of the Nazis. Disclaimer: The following story contains information that may be disturbing to some readers. Viewer discretion is advised. The backlash intensified especially because Sunday, December 18, 2022, marked the beginning of Hanukkah, an important festival for the Jewish community. One user on Twitter pointed out how the newspaper didn’t even try to hide the symbol.Fiercely Jewish ✡️ Am Yisroel Chai@ObnoxiouslyM3@shevereshtus They aren’t even trying to hide it16@shevereshtus They aren’t even trying to hide itThe puzzle was created by a consulting manager named Ryan McCarty, who titled it, "Some Theme’s Missing." McCarty has also been the creator of 22 other puzzles for the New York Times. As per SBS, in a section of the newspaper titled “constructor notes,” McCarty expressed his excitement about debuting in the Sunday crossword puzzle of the newspaper and wrote:"This grid features one of my favourite open middles that I've made as it pulls from a variety of subject areas. 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!"Despite McCarty describing the crossword as a "fun whirlpool shape," the newspaper was heavily criticized on social media. The New York Times gets slammed on social media for recent crossword puzzleKeith Edwards@keithedwardsThis is the NYTimes crossword puzzle today on the first day of Hanukka.What the hell, @nytimes?45371130This is the NYTimes crossword puzzle today on the first day of Hanukka.What the hell, @nytimes? https://t.co/kNBs8RjyJJOne person on Twitter wrote that they did not notice the overall design of the puzzle until they finished it, but were shocked once they realized the similarity. They also mentioned that this counts as the third time the newspaper is being called out for a puzzle resembling a Swastika. Previously, they were called out in 2014 and 2017 for similar incidents.More and more people are now taking to social media to demand answers from the New York Times. Some said that even if it was unintentional on the part of the creator, the editor should have sent it back for rectification.Sam Sokol@SamuelSokolI know that the @nytimes crossword wasn’t intentionally laid out as a swastika so I guess the sin here is bad editing. How did this get approved without somebody noticing?8815I know that the @nytimes crossword wasn’t intentionally laid out as a swastika so I guess the sin here is bad editing. How did this get approved without somebody noticing? https://t.co/T8bCpID6TJPeople are also saying that having made similar mistakes in the past, the New York Times should have put in an effort to avoid another similar incident. Furthermore, several netizens are demanding that the NYT address this issue publicly.Here are some reactions from Twitter: Dan O'Brien@OtherDanOBrienA few years ago, the New York Times upset people by publishing a crossword that looked vaguely like a swastika. To rectify this, they published a new crossword today that looks *exactly* like a swastika27864A few years ago, the New York Times upset people by publishing a crossword that looked vaguely like a swastika. To rectify this, they published a new crossword today that looks *exactly* like a swastika https://t.co/QNCLhiCNFoDalí Parton@pocketsssssssOk just need to ask why the NYT crossword is shaped like a swastika today 🤔🤔🤔 @nytimes639Ok just need to ask why the NYT crossword is shaped like a swastika today 🤔🤔🤔 @nytimes https://t.co/zAR6Xdgonnshevereshtus@shevereshtusIf you think it’s outrageous that the New York Times decided a swastika was a great idea for their crossword puzzle on the first day of Hanukkah, maybe you should remember that the next time you read their reports about Haredi yeshivot & ponder whether there might be bias there.497142If you think it’s outrageous that the New York Times decided a swastika was a great idea for their crossword puzzle on the first day of Hanukkah, maybe you should remember that the next time you read their reports about Haredi yeshivot & ponder whether there might be bias there. https://t.co/HubKEVzRR8Vortex Sophia@VortexSophiabakThe New York Times (NYT) literally published a swastika for the start of Hanukkah as the crossword puzzle today. #NewYorkTimes #nazis #swastika21853The New York Times (NYT) literally published a swastika for the start of Hanukkah as the crossword puzzle today. #NewYorkTimes #nazis #swastika https://t.co/do17rT5PbnBruce R Snyder AKA The Dude 🇺🇸@realBruceSnyderCorrect me if I'm wrong but I think I see a swastika in this New York Times crossword puzzle.Maybe they're honoring Ukraine.Doesn't Hanukkah start tonight???141Correct me if I'm wrong but I think I see a swastika in this New York Times crossword puzzle.Maybe they're honoring Ukraine.Doesn't Hanukkah start tonight??? https://t.co/n8vT8tkKpJBlake Flayton@blakeflaytonToday’s New York Times crossword is um…making me nervous.1910252Today’s New York Times crossword is um…making me nervous. https://t.co/73CafLiy3ZChris Plante Show@ChrisPlanteShowHere’s the New York Times crossword I’m talking about. What a disgrace this “newspaper” is.20255Here’s the New York Times crossword I’m talking about. What a disgrace this “newspaper” is. https://t.co/QML36pxxKaFSM is the PARODY Dog 😷#NHSStrike😷 #FBPE@FsmDogBeyond appalling.... twitter.com/VortexSophiaba…Vortex Sophia@VortexSophiabakThe New York Times (NYT) literally published a swastika for the start of Hanukkah as the crossword puzzle today. #NewYorkTimes #nazis #swastika22The New York Times (NYT) literally published a swastika for the start of Hanukkah as the crossword puzzle today. #NewYorkTimes #nazis #swastika https://t.co/do17rT5PbnBeyond appalling.... twitter.com/VortexSophiaba…Response from New York TimesDailyMail reported that in response to the backlash against the puzzle, a New York Times sportsperson said: "This is a common crossword design: Many open grids in crosswords have a similar spiral pattern because of the rules around rotational symmetry and black squares."As per Fox News, in a column about the crossword, Caitlin Lovinger said that she loved the geometry of the puzzle, containing several stair steps. She also shared that she feels this pattern will contribute to an "evenness" once solved.In response to this, one user on Twitter said that they immediately noticed the puzzle resembling the Swastika symbol. Many also discussed the editors being insensitive, adding that this requires strict action to be taken.