NY MAYOR’S WIFE APOLOGIZES FOR N-WORD

By Rob Redding

Editor & Publisher

NEW YORK, April 16, 2026, 8 p.m.— Rama Duwaji, wife of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, today is apologizing as she faces renewed scrutiny over old posts showing her using the N-word as a teenager.

She said she felt “a lot of shame being confronted with language I used that is so harmful to others” and added that “being 15 doesn’t excuse it.”

The posts, written when she was in high school, also included praise for controversial figures. In recent comments she said, “I understand the hurt I caused and am truly sorry,” framing her response around accountability rather than defense.

Since Mamdani’s election, her past has been dissected across social platforms and in local conversations. Duwaji said she has read the criticism and understands why the posts struck a nerve. “I’ve read and seen a lot of what others have had to say in response, and I understand the hurt I caused,” she said.

She also stressed that she does not see herself as a public figure and wants to keep her focus on her work. “My focus isn’t on being a public figure, but continuing my work with care and responsibility,” she said.

Her comments underline a point she repeated more than once: “Being 15 doesn’t excuse it.” The line captures both the seriousness of the harm and her attempt to show growth.