Entertainment
Long-shot socialist and Trump foe: Who is Zohran Mamdani?
Zohran Mamdani’s election as New York mayor caps an extraordinary rise for the leftist local lawmaker who emerged from relative obscurity to lead a supercharged campaign for the US megacity’s top job.
Since his surprise victory in the Democratic Party primary in June, New Yorkers have become used to seeing his bearded, smiling face on television — and on badges proudly worn by his supporters.
The 34-year-old election winner was born in Uganda to a family of Indian origin and has lived in the United States since he was seven, becoming a naturalized US citizen in 2018.
He is the son of filmmaker Mira Nair (“Monsoon Wedding,” “Mississippi Masala”) and Mahmood Mamdani, a professor and respected Africa expert — leading some of his detractors to call him a “nepo baby.”
He followed a path paved by other youngsters from elite liberal families, attending the elite Bronx High School of Science followed by Bowdoin College in Maine, a university seen as a bastion of progressive thought.
Under the alias “Young Cardamom,” he ventured into the world of rap in 2015, influenced by hip-hop group “Das Racist,” which had two members of Indian origin who played with references and tropes from the subcontinent.
Mamdani’s attempt to break into the competitive world of professional music did not last, with the performer-turned-politician calling himself a second-rate artist.
He took an interest into politics when he learned that rapper Himanshu Suri, who performed under the alias Heems, was supporting a candidate for city council — and joined that campaign as an activist.
Mamdani went on to become a foreclosure prevention counselor, helping financially struggling homeowners avoid losing their homes.
He was elected in 2018 as a lawmaker from Queens, a melting pot of predominantly poor and migrant communities, representing the area in the New York State Assembly.
‘Disaffected voters’
The self-proclaimed socialist, who has been re-elected three times, put the goal of making the city affordable for everyone who are not wealthy, the majority of its approximately 8.5 million residents, at the heart of his campaign.
He has promised more rent control, free day care and buses, and city-run neighborhood grocery stores.
Mamdani is also a long-standing supporter of the Palestinian cause, although his positions on Israel — which he has called an “apartheid regime” while branding the war in Gaza a “genocide” — have drawn the ire of some in the Jewish community.
In recent months he has made a point of vocally denouncing antisemitism — as well as the Islamophobia he has suffered.
Playing the race card, President Donald Trump, who calls Mamdani a “little communist,” denounced him as a “a proven and self professed JEW HATER” Tuesday as New Yorkers were heading to the polls.
Mamdani is something of an establishment “outsider,” according to Costas Panagopoulos, a political science professor at Northeastern University.
“He has managed to galvanize support from disaffected voters and others in New York City who are dissatisfied with the status quo and with an establishment that they perceive to be overlooking their needs and policy preferences,” he said.
Mamdani, a keen soccer and cricket fan, recently married US illustrator Rama Duwaji, and put his experience of activism to work in a strategically coordinated canvassing and leaflet campaign that he has paired with an extensive and often humorous use of social media.
“He really is a kind of an hybrid of a great 1970s campaign and a great 2025 campaign,” said Lincoln Mitchell, a Columbia University professor.
David and Victoria Beckham are no longer following their estranged son, Brooklyn, on Instagram after he decided to spend Christmas with his wife, Nicola Peltz.
The heartbroken parents, who are said to feeling their eldest son’s absence more than as ever as Christmas approaches, have removed him from their following list.
Brooklyn, 26, is also no longer following his mother and father on the picture-based sharing platform.
Meanwhile, Brooklyn’s wife Nicola, 30, does not follow David and Victoria either and they no longer follow her.
The move comes after Brooklyn’s friends told DailyMail in July that his brothers Cruz and Romeo had blocked both him and his wife Nicola on the social media platform.
Despite several reconciliation attempts from Sir David and his brother Cruz, the aspiring chef will celebrate the festive period with actress Nicola’s billionaire parents Nelson and Claudia, who are said to be ‘excited’ to have him.
A source said: ‘Brooklyn and Nicola decided they would be spending this Christmas with her family. Her parents are really excited to have them.’
Brooklyn, 26, and Nicola, 30, arrived in Miami, Florida, earlier this week.
Wayne Lineker shared a worrying health update from hospital as he continued to recover from a life threatening illness that almost killed him.
The Ibiza club owner and reality TV star revealed that he could be forced to spend this Christmas alone if his condition does not improve at all.
The 63 year old was rushed to the hospital earlier this month and was later treated in good care.
Doctors diagnosed him with extremely dangerous pneumonia, an infection that left him unable to walk and struggle to breathe.
From his hospital bed, Wayne told fans that he is still undergoing treatment and might now go for a major surgery.
“I know I look a bit rough,” he said, before adding, “But, I’ve been through a lot this past couple of days.”
He also explained that parts of his lungs are not clearing properly despite medication.
“Parts of my lungs, weren’t clearing of the phlegm, and were very stubborn,” Wayne shared.
However, doctors asked him to do breathing exercises daily, well hourly, and to stay active around his room.
Wayne said he is currently on strong antibiotics but warned the surgery could happen soon if there is no such improvement.
“It’s a keyhole surgery and then they’ll go in and do what’s called a washout, and wash my lungs out and hopefully that will be the end of it,” he explained.
“It will be touch and go whether I’ll be going home for Christmas,” Wayne added. “There’s your update. Thanks guys.”
Dave Chappelle made an unexpected move that caught viewers off guard during a major boxing broadcast.
Without prior promotion, the 52-year-old star revealed that a new Netflix stand up project would arrive later the same night.
The announcement surprised fans watching the event, turning the sports broadcast into a pop culture moment.
Within hours, social media began buzzing as viewers rushed to streaming platforms.
The performance was recorded months ago in Washington, DC, the city where Chappelle grew up.
However, the setting played a personal role in the show, as he reflected on his life, career and the changing world around him.
Rather than focusing only on jokes, Chappelle spoke about public reaction to his work and the criticism he has faced during international tours.
He addressed freedom of speech and explained why he continues to speak openly even when it sparks backlash.
The release marked his eighth project with Netflix, strengthening one of the most talked about partnerships in modern stand up.
Past releases from Chappelle regularly fueled debate while drawing massive audiences.
Releasing the project immediately after a major sporting event, showed a calculated move to capture attention beyond comedy fans.
Moreover, fans and viewers online praised the timing and the surprise factor.
With the project now available, Dave once again placed himself at the center of entertainment discussion, proving his abilities.
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