NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing criticism after a 2016 interview resurfaced this week showing him speaking with a noticeably different accent. The nearly decade-old clip features Mamdani discussing his Ugandan background and life in Kampala for a South African radio station.
Critics on social media accused Mamdani of using a fake Ugandan accent. The segment was recorded while Mamdani was promoting his mother Mira Nair's Disney film "Queen of Katwe," which depicts a Ugandan chess prodigy.
The resurfaced video adds to a series of challenges for the sitting mayor, despite recent polls showing increased popularity among New Yorkers. The 2016 appearance was part of a promotional tour for "Queen of Katwe," a film based on the real-life story of Phiona Mutesi from the Katwe slums of Kampala. Mamdani, whose mother directed the film, spoke about his personal connection to Uganda during the interview.
The accent controversy is not the first time Mamdani has drawn scrutiny over past associations. The mayor is also facing questions about his ties to Uncivilized Media, an outlet accused of spreading antisemitic conspiracies. Resurfaced clips show Mamdani sitting with representatives from the organization.
Another video circulating online shows a former intern for Mamdani—during his time as a state assemblyman—invoking "jihad" while discussing her activism. The clip has revived questions about his staffing choices in the state legislature.
Mamdani's office has not directly addressed the accent controversy. In a recent appearance on The Shade Room, Mamdani discussed the rising cost of attending sporting events, saying, "for too many New Yorkers, and frankly, for too many Americans, sports has become a luxury commodity."
