The noisiest argument at a candidates forum in southeast Queens on Thursday night was not between any two of the candidates, but between one of them, George McDonald, a long-shot Republican hopeful for mayor, and the audience.

The subject was Anthony D. Weiner, whom Mr. McDonald at one point referred to, in heated tones, as “a self-pleasuring freak.” The audience, which by that point was firmly on Mr. Weiner’s side, booed loudly. Even the moderator told Mr. McDonald to stick to the issues, saying, “There is no one in this audience that is sin-free.”

Mr. Weiner, the former congressman who in the last couple of weeks has faced new revelations about his online sexual relationships, has gotten a rough reception at some recent events. But at Thursday’s forum, which was hosted by a group called the Concerned Citizens of Laurelton and drew a mostly African-American crowd, people seemed to quickly warm to his persecuted persona.

Mr. Weiner, who arrived nearly an hour late, began by mocking members of the media who follow him everywhere. “Welcome all of my friends here with the cameras,” he said, before telling the audience how he had snubbed the reporters outside, telling them that they should come listen to what the people of southeast Queens had to say.