'Not AI': NYC mayor Mamdani's office rejects claim over Mandarin, Bengali broadway videos
TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Aug 18, 2026, 05.30 PM IST
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's office has denied claims that artificial intelligence was used to create videos of him speaking Mandarin and Bengali while promoting the city's giveaway of 2,000 free Broadway tickets to high school students.
Mamdani's press secretary and chief spokesperson, Joe Calvello, addressed the speculation on X on Sunday, writing: “And just to be clear this is NOT AI.”
A spokesperson told The New York Times that Mamdani had not studied or spoken Mandarin since his school years.
Queens Councilman Phil Wong, a native Mandarin speaker, also said the clip appeared genuine.
“Sounds accurate. Probably rehearsed many times,” Wong told The New York Post.
Mamdani also appeared in a separate video speaking Bengali, which drew attention on social media. One user commented:
“I’m crying, your Bangla is better than mine.”
The language videos were released as part of a city initiative offering more than 2,000 free Broadway tickets to New York City high school students.
The programme, organised with the Theatre Development Fund (TDF), gives students a chance to attend one of seven Broadway shows through a free lottery.
Mamdani said the scheme was intended to make New York's theatre and cultural offerings accessible to students regardless of their financial circumstances.
Mamdani's press secretary and chief spokesperson, Joe Calvello, addressed the speculation on X on Sunday, writing: “And just to be clear this is NOT AI.”
And just to be clear this is NOT AI https://t.co/q8IrUfR50G
— Joe Calvello (@the_vello) August 16, 2026
A spokesperson told The New York Times that Mamdani had not studied or spoken Mandarin since his school years.
Queens Councilman Phil Wong, a native Mandarin speaker, also said the clip appeared genuine.
“Sounds accurate. Probably rehearsed many times,” Wong told The New York Post.
Mamdani also appeared in a separate video speaking Bengali, which drew attention on social media. One user commented:
“I’m crying, your Bangla is better than mine.”
The language videos were released as part of a city initiative offering more than 2,000 free Broadway tickets to New York City high school students.
The programme, organised with the Theatre Development Fund (TDF), gives students a chance to attend one of seven Broadway shows through a free lottery.
Mamdani said the scheme was intended to make New York's theatre and cultural offerings accessible to students regardless of their financial circumstances.