Full Breakdown
Miss Israel’s Brooklyn Encounter Highlights Ongoing Controversy Over NYC First Lady’s Past Posts
5/7/2026, 2:09:38 AM
Miss Israel’s Brooklyn Encounter
On Sunday, May 3, 2026, Melanie Shiraz, Miss Israel 2025, recorded a brief Instagram video after sitting next to Rama Duwaji, the wife of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, in a Williamsburg café. Shiraz says Duwaji’s demeanor changed after Shiraz identified herself as Israeli and that Duwaji “politely brushed me off and then refused to engage.” The clip contains no audio.
Background: Duwaji’s Controversial Social-Media History
Rama Duwaji, a 28-year-old Houston native, faced backlash after resurfaced posts that praised Palestinian militants and questioned the existence of Tel Aviv. Specific posts included a 2017 Tumblr image of Leila Khaled with the caption “If it does good for my cause, I’ll be happy to accept death,” and a tweet stating Tel Aviv “shouldn’t exist.” In 2024 she liked Instagram content that questioned reporting on sexual-violence coverage of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. Duwaji issued an apology in April 2026, expressing shame for language used as a teenager.
Key Figures
- Melanie Shiraz – 27-year-old Israeli beauty queen, crowned Miss Israel 2025, active in pro-Israel advocacy.
- Rama Duwaji – 28-year-old first lady of New York City, married to Mayor Zohran Mamdani, subject of controversy over past social-media activity.
- Zohran Mamdani – Mayor of New York City, inaugurated January 1, 2026; described his wife as a private individual with no formal city role.
Timeline of Relevant Events
- 2017 – Duwaji posts Leila Khaled image on Tumblr.
- 2023 Oct 7 – Hamas attack; Duwaji later liked posts praising the event.
- 2024 – Duwaji likes Instagram posts questioning reporting on sexual-violence coverage.
- April 2026 – Duwaji apologizes for teenage posts, citing shame and responsibility.
- May 3, 2026 – Shiraz’s encounter with Duwaji in Brooklyn café.
- May 5, 2026 – Shiraz releases video; Newsweek and other outlets report on the incident.
Official Statements & Responses
Rama Duwaji’s apology, released in April 2026, stated: “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. 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.” Mayor Mamdani later described his wife as “a private person who has held no formal position on my campaign or in my City Hall.”
Criticism & Opposition
Critics highlighted Duwaji’s past posts as evidence of anti-Israel sentiment, noting that the 2017 Leila Khaled image and the “Tel Aviv shouldn’t exist” tweet align with extremist rhetoric. Shiraz’s account framed Duwaji’s refusal to engage as contradictory to her public acknowledgment of past remarks. Public backlash intensified after Duwaji’s 2024 Instagram likes related to the October 7 attack.
On-the-Ground Report
Shiraz’s Instagram video shows her approaching Duwaji, offering a selfie, and then stepping back after Duwaji reportedly said “Sorry” and declined further interaction. The video’s lack of sound leaves the exact exchange undocumented, but Shiraz’s caption describes the encounter as “polite” yet “the lack of willingness to engage” evident.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Newsweek could not independently verify the social-media account linked to Duwaji, while The Washington Free Beacon cited facial-recognition technology to confirm the identity. Duwaji’s X profile has been deleted, and both Duwaji and the mayor’s office did not respond to interview requests. The precise words exchanged in the café remain unrecorded.
Verbatim Quotes
- “So, guess who sat next to me at a cafe in New York?” — Melanie Shiraz
- “She sat right next to me. What are the odds?” — Melanie Shiraz
- “I told her what I think about the stuff she has said online, and that I believe that it’s important to engage in dialogue in which you don’t dehumanize the other side.” — Melanie Shiraz
- “7 post and issued an apology last month, saying, “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.” — Rama Duwaji
- “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.” — Rama Duwaji
What’s Next
Further clarification may emerge if Duwaji or Mayor Mamdani’s office comment on the Brooklyn incident. Media outlets continue to monitor public reaction to Duwaji’s past posts and her role as New York City’s first lady.
