Rama Duwaji, the wife of Zohran Mamdani, said she feels “a lot of shame” after old social media posts resurfaced that included offensive language and content tied to figures linked to Palestinian militant groups. The comments came in her first public interview since her husband took office in January.
Speaking to Hyperallergic, Duwaji acknowledged the posts, which she said were written when she was a teenager. She said her age at the time does not excuse the language used and expressed regret for the harm caused, Fox News reported.
“When a tabloid recently published old tweets I wrote as a teenager, I felt a lot of shame being confronted with language I used that is so harmful to others; being 15 doesn’t excuse it,” she said.
The controversy stems from a March report that linked Duwaji to an old X account and Tumblr posts. The report said the account shared content praising individuals connected to groups designated by the United States as terrorist organizations, along with posts containing racial and anti-gay slurs.
Among the examples cited was a repost referencing Shadia Abu Ghazaleh, described in the post as a “resistance fighter.” Ghazaleh was affiliated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government.
The report also highlighted a post claiming that Tel Aviv “shouldn’t even exist in the first place.” Additional posts allegedly included offensive language targeting racial groups and the LGBTQ community.
Duwaji said she understands the backlash and accepts responsibility for her past actions. She said she has read the criticism and recognizes the impact of her words.
“I’ve read and seen a lot of what others have had to say in response, and I understand the hurt I caused and am truly sorry,” she said.
The X account tied to the posts was deleted shortly after the report was published. Duwaji’s interview appears to be her first direct public acknowledgment of the controversy.
The issue also comes as scrutiny continues over Duwaji’s activism and artistic work. Earlier this year, she faced criticism for contributing an illustration to an essay about Gaza written by an author who publicly praised the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks.
Mamdani addressed that situation in March, distancing his wife from the author’s statements. He said the rhetoric was unacceptable and emphasized that Duwaji’s work was commissioned through a third party.
“I think that that rhetoric is patently unacceptable. I think it’s reprehensible,” Mamdani said. “And as is common for freelance illustrators, the First Lady was commissioned to illustrate an excerpt of a book by a third party. She has never engaged with or met with the author, nor had she seen the tweets that you’re referring to,” he said.
A representative for Mamdani did not immediately respond to a Fox News request for additional comment.
