Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Apr 17: Rama Duwaji, wife of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, has issued an apology for “harmful” social media posts she made during her teenage years, after a conservative news outlet resurfaced her past online activity.

In an interview with arts website Hyperallergic, Duwaji, an illustrator, expressed regret over her earlier language, including the use of offensive slurs. “I feel a lot of shame being confronted with language I used that is so harmful to others. Being 15 doesn’t excuse it,” she said.

“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.

Duwaji did not specify the exact posts she was referring to and did not directly address other social media activity that has recently drawn criticism, particularly posts related to Israel and Palestine.

Reports had earlier highlighted her past posts across multiple platforms, including content that praised Palestinian militants involved in hijackings and bombings in the 1960s and 1970s.

She had also shared a post in 2015 stating that Tel Aviv was occupying Palestinian land and “shouldn’t exist.” Additionally, some posts included the use of racial and anti-gay slurs.

Mayor Mamdani described his wife as a “private person” with no formal role in City Hall and declined to elaborate on specific posts she regretted. “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,” he told reporters.

He added that scrutiny of his wife’s past online activity was part of his decision to run for public office, noting it had implications for his family.

Duwaji has also faced criticism over reportedly liking a social media post that appeared to support Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, and for providing an illustration for an essay by an author who made controversial remarks about the attack and Jewish Israelis.

Responding to this, Mamdani said his wife had only been commissioned to illustrate a book excerpt by a third party and had no interaction with the author or knowledge of their previous statements. He termed the author’s remarks as “patently unacceptable” and “reprehensible.”