The wife of Zohran Mamdani apologizes for ‘harmful’ past social media posts that have resurfaced

(SeaPRwire) –   Rama Duwaji, spouse of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, has issued an apology for offensive social media content she posted during her teenage years. Her public statement follows an investigation by a conservative media outlet that uncovered past online activity, which included the use of an anti-gay slur.

In a conversation with the arts publication Hyperallergic, Duwaji, who works as an illustrator, expressed deep regret over the language she used, stating that being 15 years old does not justify the harm caused to others.

In the interview, which was released on Wednesday, she addressed the challenges of transitioning into a public role, noting that she has listened to the public response and is genuinely sorry for the pain her past words inflicted.

While Duwaji did not identify specific posts, she did not comment on more recent social media activity concerning Israel. That content has drawn significant attention as Mayor Mamdani works to address concerns within the city’s Jewish community regarding his own stance on Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.

The Washington Free Beacon reported last month on several years of Duwaji’s social media history, revealing that she had shared content lauding female Palestinian militants involved in 1960s and 70s hijackings and bombings. Additionally, in 2015, she shared a post asserting that Tel Aviv occupies Palestinian territory and “shouldn’t exist.”

The report also noted that Duwaji had used a racial slur for Black people in a message to a friend and employed an abbreviated anti-gay slur in 2013.

The mayor has maintained that his wife is a private citizen with no official role in his administration. When asked on Thursday to clarify which posts his wife was apologizing for, Mamdani declined to elaborate.

“She shared some of her reflections in this interview. I won’t add much to them, what I will say, however, is that she is someone of incredible integrity,” Mamdani told reporters.

He further remarked that the scrutiny surrounding his wife’s online history is an expected consequence of his mayoral candidacy, noting that his political career impacts those closest to him.

Furthermore, Duwaji has faced backlash for liking an Instagram post that seemed to celebrate the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. The Free Beacon also reported that Duwaji provided illustrations for an essay by an author who characterized the October 7 attack as “spectacular” and referred to Jewish Israelis as “rootless soulless ghouls.”

Mamdani has previously clarified that his wife was hired to illustrate a book excerpt by a third party, stating she had no personal connection to the author and was unaware of the author’s prior statements. He described the author’s language as “patently unacceptable” and “reprehensible.”

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AP writer Jake Offenhartz contributed