New York, NY (April 16, 2026)

Rama Duwaji, the wife of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, said she regrets the harm caused by resurfaced social media posts from her teenage years and early 20s, addressing the controversy publicly for the first time as scrutiny over her past online activity continues to grow. In a recent interview, she acknowledged that some of the language in those posts was damaging and said confronting them now has brought a sense of shame and forced reflection on how they affected others.

The renewed attention follows the circulation of archived posts linked to Duwaji that drew criticism for inflammatory language about Israel, praise for Palestinian militant figures and the use of a racial slur in an old post from her teens. Additional backlash followed separate reporting last month that she had liked social media posts after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack that were seen by critics as supportive of the assault or dismissive of reported atrocities.

In her public remarks, Duwaji did not address each post individually. Instead, she focused on the broader impact of the material and said the episode has altered her life personally and professionally. She described herself as still processing what the fallout means for her as an artist and as a public figure adjacent to City Hall, while signaling that she intends to move forward by focusing on her work with greater care.

Mayor Mamdani has previously defended his wife by emphasizing that she holds no formal role in his administration and is not a government official. Even so, the controversy has become politically charged because of the mayor’s high profile and his own sharp criticism of Israeli policy, with opponents arguing that the issue raises broader questions about judgment and accountability.

The episode is likely to remain in public view as debate continues over where the line falls between youthful online behavior, political expression and material that many see as hateful or deeply offensive. For now, Duwaji’s remarks appear aimed at acknowledging the pain caused by the posts without reopening each individual controversy in detail.