Resurfaced Mamdani interview ignites internet frenzy over alleged ‘fake’ Ugandan accent

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A resurfaced 2016 interview with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani sparked conservative backlash Wednesday after critics accused him of using a “fake” Ugandan accent while promoting his mother’s Disney film.

While promoting Queen of Katwe during a 2016 interview on South Africa‘s Kaya 959 radio station, Mamdani discussed Ugandan culture, dance and music, telling the host he was “from Uganda” but also grew up in New York.

“The difference for me is I’m from Uganda, but I also grew up in New York. In New York, you go out, some guys are very hesitant to dance,” Mamdani said.

“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.”

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The clip, which also resurfaced last year, quickly spread across social media again and prompted a wave of mockery.

“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,” former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt posted on X.

In another post on X, The Benny Show host Benny Johnson wrote, “UNEARTHED: Zohran Mamdani does an obviously fake Ugandan accent while promoting a Disney movie based in Africa. How many Democrats have been caught using fake accents at this point? They’re all frauds.”

“Anyone else notice Mamdani’s accent change? He must’ve studied at Obama University,” Twitter Spaces host and conservative social media commentator Tara Bull posted on X.

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“Nobody does a fake accent better than a Democrat politician,” the Daily Wire posted on X.

“Has Zohran Mamdani ever explained when adopting another culture’s accent is “cultural appropriation” and when it is “authenticity”? He had plenty to say about everyone else’s privilege at Bowdoin,” Former Crazy Eddie CFO and convicted fraudster Sammy Antar posted on X.

Conservative Brief, a right-wing political news website, also posted on X, “Another One?! Here’s some footage found of NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani attempting to use a fake Ugandan accent while promoting a movie based in Africa. What is with the Democrats and their fake accents?!”

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“When did Disney start to suck? When they hired the directors son who had a fake Ugandan accent. He didn’t mind “big corporations” when they were signing his checks,” Kevin Smith, host of Loud Majority Live, posted on X.

Mamdani, who holds dual U.S. and Ugandan citizenship, was born in Uganda, raised in South Africa and moved to New York City at age 7.

The film, directed by Mamdani’s mother, Mira Nair, is based on the true story of Ugandan chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi. Mamdani is credited as the music supervisor and third assistant director and appears in a brief on-screen cameo.

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Fox News Digital reached out to the mayor’s office for comment.

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