On Friday, Mayor Zohran Mamdani asserted that his wife, Rama Duwaji, is not a public figure, despite her recent media attention. This statement came amid controversy over her social media activity, where she liked posts that praised Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023.

Stay updated on Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s socialist initiatives and the latest developments in NYC politics

The 34-year-old democratic socialist was questioned at an event unrelated to the controversy about his 28-year-old wife, an artist, liking Instagram posts that contained graphic images of the terrorist group’s violent actions. These posts, shared shortly after the attack, also contained anti-Israel sentiments, according to a report by Jewish Insider.

“My wife is the love of my life, and she’s also a private individual who has never held a formal role in my campaign or at City Hall,” Mamdani stated.

He continued, “I was elected to serve all 8.5 million residents of this city. Given my position, I believe it’s my duty to address questions about my beliefs, my political views, and my positions.”

Despite Mamdani’s assertions of her privacy, Duwaji has recently been in the public eye, notably appearing on the digital cover of New York Magazine in late December, where she participated in an interview and photo shoot.

She admitted in the profile she didn’t have the same level of privacy as her husband after he became a household name last year.

“I realized that it was not just his thing but our thing,” Duwaji said in the gushing piece.

“I wasn’t necessarily offended, but it was more the perception of being seen as someone’s wife. I was spiraling about how, that night, the first article to come out was like, ‘Who Is Zohran Mamdani’s Wife?’ Blah, blah, blah, blah.”

The New York Times has also penned several pieces about Duwaji, including profiling her artwork and fashion during Mamdani’s first few months in office.