A casual coffee stop in Brooklyn has turned into a viral political and cultural flashpoint after Melanie Shiraz claimed her chance encounter with Rama Duwaji, the wife of Zohran Mamdani, quickly shifted from friendly to frosty inside a Williamsburg café.
Shiraz, 27, said she was in New York for an event at the Israeli Consulate when she spotted Duwaji sitting nearby on Sunday. What began as a normal café moment, she says, turned into something far more tense within minutes.
According to Shiraz, the interaction started off casually, with light conversation and even a brief attempt at a selfie-style video. But she claims things changed the moment she introduced herself as Miss Israel.
“She sat right next to me. What are the odds?” Shiraz said, describing the encounter as unexpected but initially warm.
Shiraz alleges that after revealing her identity, Duwaji’s demeanor shifted noticeably. She claims the mayor’s wife became less responsive and ultimately declined further interaction, including a request for a photo.
The pageant winner also says she tried to raise political differences during the brief exchange, referencing Duwaji’s past social media activity and expressing a desire for dialogue. She claims the conversation ended with Duwaji politely disengaging.
Short silent footage shared by Shiraz shows the two seated together briefly, with Duwaji appearing to smile before turning away. However, without audio, the exact exchange remains unclear, and no independent verification of the conversation has been provided.
The incident is now circulating widely online, fueled by existing controversy surrounding Duwaji’s past social media posts related to Israel and the October 7 attacks, which previously led to public backlash and a formal apology.
Duwaji has not responded publicly to the latest claims. Mamdani’s office has also declined to comment, while sources close to the mayor have previously described his wife as a private individual not involved in official political activity.
Shiraz, who has built a public profile as an outspoken pro-Israel advocate, has frequently spoken at events across the U.S., often engaging in politically charged discussions tied to her advocacy work.
For now, what actually happened inside that Brooklyn café remains a matter of competing narratives, brief footage, and a fast-moving online debate that shows no signs of slowing down.