Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old New York City mayoral candidate and self-described democratic socialist, has recently come under attack from actor-comedian Michael Rapaport, who questioned Mamdani’s “working-class” credentials after seeing him dine at an upscale Manhattan sushi restaurant. Rapaport mocked Mamdani on social media, highlighting that the candidate lives in a rent-stabilized apartment in Queens while apparently enjoying luxury meals. “This clown lives in a rent-stabilized apartment in Queens but dines like a diplomat on a Qatar-funded per diem. Who’s paying for that toro, ‘Zoron the Moron’? You ain’t working class – you’re fraud class,” Rapaport tweeted, later adding comments on Instagram questioning Mamdani’s transportation back home and endorsing his rival, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an Independent.
Mamdani’s background makes the critique more complicated. Born to Mumbai-born Ugandan author Mahmood Mamdani and filmmaker Mira Nair, he grew up in a household with access to resources uncommon for most New Yorkers. Despite his affluent upbringing, he has built a political platform focused on cost-of-living issues that resonate with working-class residents. His agenda includes freezing rent for millions of New Yorkers, making city bus service free, and funding these measures through increased taxes on corporations and the wealthy. This populist messaging has earned him a double-digit lead in public polls over Cuomo and endorsements from prominent Democrats like former Vice President Kamala Harris and New York Governor Kathy Hochul, as well as financial backing from numerous small donors.
Rapaport’s attack, however, sparked significant backlash online, with many users defending Mamdani and criticizing the comedian’s focus on a private dinner. Comments pointed out the hypocrisy of targeting personal expenses when politicians frequently incur far larger costs on public funds, citing presidential golf trips and other high-profile government expenditures. Others highlighted that Mamdani’s dinner at Omen, a Manhattan restaurant, was not extraordinarily extravagant compared to other celebrity dining experiences. Users also called out Rapaport’s own expensive Malibu outings, suggesting a double standard in his criticism.
The social media storm around Mamdani underscores the broader tension between public perception, personal lifestyle, and political image, especially for candidates advocating progressive policies while coming from relatively privileged backgrounds. While Rapaport framed the dinner as evidence of hypocrisy, supporters argued that the critique was misplaced, emphasizing Mamdani’s policy commitments and track record over personal choices. As Mamdani’s campaign continues, the debate illustrates how scrutiny of candidates’ lifestyles intersects with political messaging, voter trust, and the challenge of appealing to working-class constituencies while navigating personal and familial privilege.
