Tue Jul 08 10:50:00 UTC 2025: ## New York Times Apologizes, Replaces “Strands” Puzzle Due to Unfortunate Timing

**New York, NY -** The New York Times Games team issued an apology and replaced the “Strands” puzzle for Monday, July 7, 2025, after realizing its theme and board coincided with tragic events unfolding in Texas. The team acknowledged that the puzzle, created and scheduled weeks in advance, was released with “deeply unfortunate timing” and may have been perceived as insensitive.

“We want to acknowledge that today’s Strands puzzle was released with deeply unfortunate timing, for which we are truly sorry,” the statement read. “In light of the tragic events ongoing in Texas, we recognize that the theme and board may have felt insensitive and poorly timed. This was entirely unintentional.”

The Times quickly worked to replace the original puzzle, and a new version is now available for players by refreshing their browser or reopening the game app. The statement thanked players for their “patience and understanding” during the amendment.

The “Strands Sidekick” blog post, designed to offer hints and community discussion for the game, still provided its regular content, including a “moderate” difficulty rating based on tester feedback, as well as contact information for feedback and technical support. The Times team also promotes their Instagram account for solving tips and behind-the-scenes content.

Read More