Rama Duwaji, the wife of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, has issued a public apology for past social media posts that drew attention following an investigation earlier this year, as reported [1] by Fox News.
Duwaji, a Texas-born Syrian-American artist, addressed the controversy in an interview published Wednesday by Hyperallergic. The interview marked her first public comments since her husband took office as mayor in January.
The controversy began in March, when the Washington Free Beacon reported [2] on a series of past posts tied to accounts associated with Duwaji on X and Tumblr.
Mayor Mamdani’s homophobic, racist terrorist-sympathizing wife, who recently got exposed called black people ni***rs and gay people f**s, has shut down her account. https://t.co/79G072uEfR [3] pic.twitter.com/i8lTuH0HcR [4]
— Paul A. Szypula (@Bubblebathgirl) March 19, 2026 [5]
The posts included language that critics said contained racial slurs, derogatory remarks, and praise for individuals and groups linked to acts of terrorism.
In one example cited in the report, an account connected to Duwaji reposted an image of Shadia Abu Ghazaleh, a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and internationally.
The post described Ghazaleh as a resistance figure. Ghazaleh died in 1968 when a bomb she intended to use in Tel Aviv exploded prematurely.
Other posts highlighted in the report included language described as a racial slur, as well as a derogatory term directed at gay individuals.
Another repost referenced the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, stating it “shouldn’t even exist in the first place,” according to the report.
Duwaji acknowledged the posts in her interview and expressed regret.
“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.
Wait Mamdani’s wife used the N word and mocked gay people?
Democrats should be lining up to condemn this! Why are they so silent? pic.twitter.com/nQshMPEfNc [6]
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) March 19, 2026 [7]
“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 added.
Following the report, the X account associated with Duwaji was deleted. Her statement this week represents her first public response to the controversy.
Duwaji has remained active in her work as an artist and has previously expressed criticism of Israel during her husband’s political career.
In February, she faced additional scrutiny after contributing an illustration to an essay about a Gaza refugee camp.
The essay’s author, Susan Abulhawa, had publicly praised the October 7 Hamas attack in Israel, which killed more than 1,200 people.
Abulhawa referred to the attack as “a spectacular moment that shocked the world.” She has also made other statements about Israelis in social media posts that remain publicly available.
Mayor Mamdani addressed those comments in March, distancing his administration from the rhetoric.
“I think that that rhetoric is patently unacceptable. I think it’s reprehensible,” he 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 added.
Duwaji said in her interview that her focus remains on her work rather than public attention.
“My focus isn’t on being a public figure, but continuing my work with care and responsibility, and allowing my art to speak for itself,” she said.
A representative for Mayor Mamdani did not immediately respond to a request for comment.