Controversial Playlist Created by NYC First Lady
Rama Dowaj, the first lady of New York City, has reportedly put together a Spotify playlist that includes tracks with anti-Israel themes. One of the notable titles, “Hungry But Sexy Palestine,” has drawn particular attention.
Following the Hamas attack on October 7, her playlist appears to target Israel, which has led to significant backlash. Dowaj, 28, is facing criticism for her actions after creating this playlist.
Included in her “Hungry But Sexy Palestine” collection is a song titled “Ana Bakra Israel,” which translates to “I hate Israel.” This information was highlighted in a report from The Free Press.
Another playlist titled “p2P Palestine 2 Pree-DC Protest Trip” seems geared towards a protest scheduled for January 13, 2024, and features a song called “FREE PALESTINE.” The lyrics of this song include phrases like “Fk Israel, Israel a bitch,” which have further escalated concerns regarding the playlist’s content.
The Free Press also noted that her Spotify account had a playlist named “ACAB,” referring to “All Cops Are Bastards,” during the summer of 2020 amid protests following George Floyd’s death.
Although the mayor’s office has not commented on the recent findings, Dowaj’s Spotify account was switched to private shortly after The Free Press reached out to City Hall.
Since her husband’s election, Dowaj’s online activity has become a focal point of scrutiny. After the unexpected Hamas attack on Israel, she was found to have liked posts on Instagram celebrating the event, as well as posts suggesting that allegations of rape against hostages by Hamas were fabricated.
Dowaj, who was recently profiled in a magazine, has faced criticism for older inflammatory statements, including a 2015 post where she claimed Tel Aviv “shouldn’t exist,” and sentiments described as derogatory in nature regarding its residents.
In April, she issued an apology for the “hurt” caused by her past posts but avoided directly addressing the Israel-related content.
Mamdani, known for his critical view of Israel, defended his wife’s right to privacy, arguing that she is a private citizen and should not be under such intense scrutiny concerning her social media presence.
