Did Rama Duwaji use the N-word? Old posts of NYC first lady spark backlash

Rama Duwaji, the wife of New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani, is facing backlash after her old social media posts linked to her resurfaced online.Some of the posts were allegedly made years ago on platforms such as Tumblr and X. These posts have gone viral on social media in recent days, drawing attention to their content and ‘racist’ language.One old post attributed to Duwaji included use of a racial slur, including the N-word, in a message from 2013.However, the same report by the New York Post also said that the authenticity of the account and posts has not been independently verified.Other posts allegedly linked to Duwaji that expressed controversial views on race, politics and international issues. These included posts supporting Palestinian causes and criticising US foreign policy.The resurfaced posts are said to date back to when Duwaji was a teenager or in her early 20s. The accounts where the content appeared are no longer active.The controversy comes just months after Duwaji became New York City’s first lady following her husband’s election as mayor in 2025. She is an artist and illustrator and has not held any official role in the city government.Mayor Mamdani has previously responded to criticism over his wife’s social media activity, saying she is a private individual and does not hold any formal position in his administration.The issue has led to online backlash, with critics questioning the content of the posts and supporters urging caution, noting that some claims are based on unverified material circulating on the internet.This is not the first time Duwaji’s past online activity has come under scrutiny. Earlier, her liking of social media posts related to the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack had already sparked debate.