CRINGE: Zohran Mamdani used ‘fake’ accent during 2016 interview promoting mother’s film
“Look at theater kid commie Mamdani running another fake accent and appropriating African culture.”
A video of New York City socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani using a “fake” accent has gone viral on social media.
The video stems from a 2016 interview with South African radio station Kaya 959 promoting the Disney film Queen of Katwe, which was directed by Mamdani’s mother, Mira Nair. During the interview, Mamdani discussed the difference between nightlife in New York City and Kampala, Uganda, claiming he is “from” the African country.
“The difference for me is I’m from Uganda, but I also grew up in New York,” Mamdani said while comparing social dancing in the two cities. “You know, if they’re not grinding, they’re just standing. In Kampala, you will just not find that. People are all dancing. Everybody’s dancing, men, women and it’s fantastic that way.”
Mamdani was credited as a music supervisor and assistant director on Queen of Katwe.
The video has drawn criticism from social media users who accused Mamdani of adopting an accent he does not use in his day-to-day speech, which presented him as more authentically Ugandan. The now-mayor was born in Uganda before spending time in South Africa and moving to New York City at the age of 7. He holds both US and Ugandan citizenship.
The resurfaced footage has been met with mockery online, particularly from users who have cited it as an example of Mamdani’s authenticity.
Former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt posted on X, “Look at theater kid commie Mamdani running another fake accent and appropriating African culture. Communists are all frauds. EVERY single one. Don’t ever trust a communist, or else you’ll get Galloway’d and stranded in a gulag.”
The controversy also renewed discussion about other progressive politicians who have faced accusations of changing their speech depending on their audience. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has previously been criticized for “code-switching,” speaking with a more urban or culturally black speaking style when addressing predominantly black audiences.