It was meant to be a night of historic firsts: New York City welcoming its first Muslim and Asian American mayor in an abandoned subway station deep beneath City Hall. Yet, as Zohran Mamdani took his oath of office, the internet's gaze drifted from the politics to the pavement—specifically, to the leather-clad feet of his wife, Rama Duwaji.
What started as a fashion statement quickly spiralled into a digital culture war after the New York Post criticised her £467 ($630) boots, suggesting her appearance resembled that of a 'socialite' rather than a 'socialist'. The attack ignited a firestorm of hypocrisy accusations, which only intensified after it was revealed that the entire outfit was borrowed.
