New York City First Lady Rama Duwaji Issues Apology for Resurfaced Teenage Social Media Slurs

Rama Duwaji, wife of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, apologizes for "harmful" teenage posts. Read about the 2026 controversy involving slurs and Israel-related activity.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 17, 2026, 9:39 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Times of Israel

Public Contrition for Resurfaced Online Rhetoric

Rama Duwaji, an illustrator and the wife of New York’s recently inaugurated mayor, broke her silence regarding a series of controversial social media posts discovered by investigative outlets. In an interview with the arts publication Hyperallergic, Duwaji stated that she felt significant shame when confronted with the "harmful" language she used during her teenage years. The posts in question, which date back to 2013 when Duwaji was 15 years old, included the use of an abbreviated anti-gay slur and a racial slur used while addressing a friend. Duwaji emphasized that her age at the time did not excuse the hurt caused by her words.

Scrutiny of Stance on Israel and Palestinian Militancy

While Duwaji addressed her teenage comments, she has not responded to allegations regarding her more recent digital footprint. Reports from The Washington Free Beacon have highlighted several instances where Duwaji’s social media accounts engaged with content praising female Palestinian terrorists involved in 1960s plane hijackings and bombings. Additionally, her accounts reportedly shared a 2015 post asserting that Tel Aviv is "occupied land" and "shouldn't exist." These revelations have complicated Mayor Zohran Mamdani's efforts to build bridges with New York City’s Jewish community following his own vocal criticism of Israeli government policies.

The October 7 Interaction and Professional Affiliations

Further controversy surrounds Duwaji’s engagement with content related to the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attacks. Documentation suggests Duwaji "liked" an Instagram post that appeared to celebrate the initial onslaught against Israel. She has also faced criticism for providing illustrations for an essay written by an author who described the October 7 events as "spectacular" and used dehumanizing language toward Jewish Israelis. These associations have intensified calls for clarity regarding the First Lady’s ideological positions, even as her husband maintains that she is a "private person" without a formal policy role.