Comedian Arynne Wexler's roast jokes about Zohran Mamdani and Rama Duwaji draw Islamophobia charges; Piers Morgan calls them "disgusting"
At Commentary magazine's annual roast, comedian Arynne Wexler joked that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani bought his wife, Rama Duwaji, when she was 12. Piers Morgan called the jokes disgusting, critics called them Islamophobic, and Will Chamberlain said she did nothing wrong.
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
Commentary is a monthly magazine of conservative and Jewish opinion that holds an annual roast to raise money. VT reported that this year's honoree was Ron Dermer, Israel's former ambassador to the United States, and that Ben Shapiro was among the other roasters. Mamdani, a democratic socialist, is New York City's first Muslim mayor; he and Duwaji, an artist, met on the dating app Hinge. Wexler, a conservative comedian whose commentary often concerns Jewish identity and Israel, posts short political videos to a large following on X. Critics of the jokes said they relied on anti-Muslim tropes; some of her defenders said the outrage was selective.
People in this case
Zohran MamdaniDirectly involved
Piers MorganDirectly involved
Negar MortazaviCommented
Richard HananiaCommented
Timeline
5 timeline entries on this page. Dates: November 8, 2026 to November 13, 2026
November 2026
Wexler performs at Commentary magazine's annual roast
Incident
Arynne Wexler is among the comedians at Commentary magazine's annual fundraising roast. VT reported that the evening was meant to roast Ron Dermer, Israel's former ambassador to the United States, and that Mamdani drew many of the jokes.
[01]VT: Arynne Wexler's 'racist' jokes about Zohran Mamdani draw criticism
VT report on the clip from Wexler's set at Commentary magazine's annual fundraising roast on November 8, 2026, transcribing her jokes about Mamdani and Duwaji and noting the criticism, including Piers Morgan's.
Wexler posts a clip of her Mamdani jokes on X
Source release
Wexler posts a 43-second clip of her roast set. In it she calls Mamdani "The Grand Mufti of New York" and jokes that he bought his wife, Rama Duwaji, "When she was 12," according to VT's transcription.
[02]Arynne Wexler
Wexler's post of a 43-second video clip from her set at Commentary magazine's annual roast on November 8, 2026, with jokes about New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his wife, Rama Duwaji. The post has no text apart from the video.
Arynne Wexler's X post with a clip of her Commentary roast set · Arynne WexlerX post of Nov. 12, 2026, 16:51 UTC, video clip (43 seconds)[01]VT: Arynne Wexler's 'racist' jokes about Zohran Mamdani draw criticism
VT report on the clip from Wexler's set at Commentary magazine's annual fundraising roast on November 8, 2026, transcribing her jokes about Mamdani and Duwaji and noting the criticism, including Piers Morgan's.
Piers Morgan calls the clip "Disgusting."
Reaction
Morgan, the host of Piers Morgan Uncensored, quote-posts Wexler's clip of her roast jokes about Mamdani and Duwaji with a single word, "Disgusting."
[03]Piers Morgan
Morgan's quote post of Wexler's roast clip.
Piers Morgan's X post of Nov. 13, 2026, 03:43 · Piers MorganX post of Nov. 13, 2026, 03:43 UTC, full textWexler answers Morgan with a clip from his own show
Reaction
Wexler quote-posts a Piers Morgan Uncensored clip in which the comedian Dave Smith says his grandfather, who escaped Nazi Germany, loved Holocaust jokes, and asks, "Lmao this you @piersmorgan?" Twelve minutes later she posts an animated image captioned "Live footage of Piers Morgan today."
[04]Arynne Wexler
Wexler's quote post of a Piers Morgan Uncensored post in which the comedian Dave Smith says his grandfather, who escaped Nazi Germany, loved Holocaust jokes.
Arynne Wexler's X post of Nov. 13, 2026, 14:38 · Arynne WexlerX post of Nov. 13, 2026, 14:38 UTC, full text[05]Arynne Wexler
Wexler's post with an animated image captioned as footage of Piers Morgan.
Arynne Wexler's X post of Nov. 13, 2026, 14:50 · Arynne WexlerX post of Nov. 13, 2026, 14:50 UTC, full textMorgan says his post drew Islamophobic abuse
Reaction
Quoting his own post on the clip, Morgan writes that the amount of "repulsive Islamophobic abuse" posted below it is "truly shocking," and that much of it comes from people who regularly rage about antisemitism.
[06]Piers Morgan
Morgan's quote post of his own earlier post on Wexler's clip, about the replies it drew.
Piers Morgan's X post of Nov. 13, 2026, 20:05 · Piers MorganX post of Nov. 13, 2026, 20:05 UTC, full text
Response record
Responses
Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.
7 responses. First 6 shown initially. Newest first.
Negar MortazaviJournalist, host of the Iran Podcast and senior fellow at the Center for International Policy, posting on her X accountBefore this statement
The post quotes Wexler's clip from the Commentary roast, in which she jokes that Mamdani bought his wife, Rama Duwaji, "When she was 12."
"You condemn bigoted tropes about Jewish people, yet launch similar attacks against Muslims. If you recognize the harm bigotry causes your own community, why inflict it on others? Europe's violent history of antisemitism is a powerful reminder of the dangers of dehumanizing rhetoric. Calling it "comedy" doesn't excuse it."
CondemnedCase context: Comedian Arynne Wexler's roast jokes about Zohran Mamdani and Rama Duwaji draw Islamophobia charges; Piers Morgan calls them "disgusting"
Full statement and sources
Mortazavi quote-posts Wexler's roast clip and says Wexler, who condemns bigoted tropes about Jews, is launching similar attacks on Muslims, and that calling them comedy does not excuse them.
After the statement
The post has no further text.
Negar Mortazavi's X post of Nov. 13, 2026, 22:43 · Negar MortazaviX post of Nov. 13, 2026, 22:43 UTC, full textWhy this label?
Mortazavi describes Wexler's jokes about Mamdani as attacks on Muslims built on bigoted tropes and says calling them comedy does not excuse them, which condemns the jokes.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Piers MorganBroadcaster and host of Piers Morgan Uncensored, posting on his X accountDirectly involvedBefore this statement
Wexler had quote-posted a Piers Morgan Uncensored clip in which the comedian Dave Smith says his grandfather loved Holocaust jokes, asking, "Lmao this you @piersmorgan?" Morgan begins his reply: "What's your point? That was Dave Smith talking, not me."
"If a comedian cracked similar so-called 'jokes' about a Jewish mayor of New York to what you said about @NYCMayor then he/she would already be cancelled. They were repellent."
CondemnedCase context: Comedian Arynne Wexler's roast jokes about Zohran Mamdani and Rama Duwaji draw Islamophobia charges; Piers Morgan calls them "disgusting"
Full statement and sources
Answering Wexler, who had shared a clip from his show of a guest defending Holocaust jokes, Morgan says the guest's words were not his, that a comedian telling similar jokes about a Jewish mayor of New York would already be cancelled, and that her jokes about Mamdani were repellent.
After the statement
The post ends there.
Piers Morgan's X post of Nov. 13, 2026, 16:04 · Piers MorganX post of Nov. 13, 2026, 16:04 UTC, full textArynne Wexler's X post of Nov. 13, 2026, 14:38 · Arynne WexlerX post of Nov. 13, 2026, 14:38 UTC, full textWhy this label?
Morgan calls Wexler's jokes about Mamdani repellent and says a comedian telling similar jokes about a Jewish mayor would already be cancelled, which condemns the jokes.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Richard HananiaPolitical scientist and founder of the Center for the Study of Partisanship and Ideology, posting on his X accountBefore this statement
The post quotes Wexler's clip from the Commentary roast, in which she jokes that Mamdani bought his wife, Rama Duwaji, "When she was 12."
"Can't believe this is the same race that gave us Seinfeld and Larry David. Everything becomes dumber and worse when it's right wing."
CondemnedCase context: Comedian Arynne Wexler's roast jokes about Zohran Mamdani and Rama Duwaji draw Islamophobia charges; Piers Morgan calls them "disgusting"
Full statement and sources
Hanania quote-posts Wexler's roast clip, contrasts it with the comedy of Seinfeld and Larry David, and says everything becomes dumber and worse when it is right wing.
After the statement
The post has no further text.
Richard Hanania's X post of Nov. 13, 2026, 15:03 · Richard HananiaX post of Nov. 13, 2026, 15:03 UTC, full textWhy this label?
Hanania criticizes Wexler's jokes about Mamdani and Duwaji as poor comedy that falls short of Seinfeld and Larry David and blames their right-wing politics, which condemns the jokes; he does not address whether they are anti-Muslim.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Will ChamberlainSenior counsel at the Article III Project, posting on his X accountBefore this statement
The post quotes Wexler's clip from the Commentary roast, in which she jokes that Mamdani bought his wife, Rama Duwaji, "When she was 12."
"Arynne Wexler did nothing wrong"
Defended or excusedCase context: Comedian Arynne Wexler's roast jokes about Zohran Mamdani and Rama Duwaji draw Islamophobia charges; Piers Morgan calls them "disgusting"
Full statement and sources
Chamberlain quote-posts Wexler's roast clip and says she did nothing wrong.
After the statement
The post has no further text.
Will Chamberlain's X post of Nov. 13, 2026, 14:57 · Will ChamberlainX post of Nov. 13, 2026, 14:57 UTC, full textWhy this label?
Chamberlain quote-posts the clip of Wexler's jokes about Mamdani and Duwaji and says she did nothing wrong, which defends the jokes.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Daniel B. ShapiroFormer U.S. ambassador to Israel and Atlantic Council distinguished fellow, posting on his X accountBefore this statement
The post quotes Wexler's clip from the Commentary roast, in which she jokes that Mamdani bought his wife, Rama Duwaji, "When she was 12."
"This is disgusting."
CondemnedCase context: Comedian Arynne Wexler's roast jokes about Zohran Mamdani and Rama Duwaji draw Islamophobia charges; Piers Morgan calls them "disgusting"
Full statement and sources
Shapiro quote-posts Wexler's clip of her roast jokes about Mamdani and his wife and calls it disgusting.
After the statement
The post has no further text.
Daniel B. Shapiro's X post of Nov. 13, 2026, 05:38 · Daniel B. ShapiroX post of Nov. 13, 2026, 05:38 UTC, full textWhy this label?
Shapiro quote-posts the clip of Wexler's jokes about Mamdani and Duwaji and calls it disgusting, which condemns the jokes.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Laila Al-ArianExecutive producer of Al Jazeera English's Fault Lines, posting on her X accountBefore this statement
The post quotes Wexler's clip from the Commentary roast, in which she jokes that Mamdani bought his wife, Rama Duwaji, "When she was 12."
"Unfunny bigoted bile that would be career ending if it wasn't about a Muslim"
CondemnedCase context: Comedian Arynne Wexler's roast jokes about Zohran Mamdani and Rama Duwaji draw Islamophobia charges; Piers Morgan calls them "disgusting"
Full statement and sources
Al-Arian quote-posts Wexler's roast clip, calls the jokes unfunny bigoted bile and says they would end a career if their target were not a Muslim.
After the statement
The post has no further text.
Laila Al-Arian's X post of Nov. 13, 2026, 03:02 · Laila Al-ArianX post of Nov. 13, 2026, 03:02 UTC, full textWhy this label?
Al-Arian calls Wexler's jokes about Mamdani bigoted bile that would end a career if they were not about a Muslim, which condemns them.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Show fewer responses
Khaled ElgindySenior fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, posting on his X accountBefore this statement
The post quotes Wexler's clip from the Commentary roast, in which she jokes that Mamdani bought his wife, Rama Duwaji, "When she was 12."
"Blatantly and gratuitously racist and Islamophobic tropes masquerading as comedy. Truly vile stuff."
CondemnedCase context: Comedian Arynne Wexler's roast jokes about Zohran Mamdani and Rama Duwaji draw Islamophobia charges; Piers Morgan calls them "disgusting"
Full statement and sources
Elgindy quote-posts Wexler's roast clip and calls the jokes blatantly racist and Islamophobic tropes presented as comedy, and vile.
After the statement
The post has no further text.
Khaled Elgindy's X post of Nov. 12, 2026, 21:27 · Khaled ElgindyX post of Nov. 12, 2026, 21:27 UTC, full textWhy this label?
Elgindy calls Wexler's jokes about Mamdani and Duwaji racist and Islamophobic tropes and "Truly vile stuff," which condemns them.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(13)
Original post
Arynne Wexler's X post with a clip of her Commentary roast set
About this source
Wexler's post of a 43-second video clip from her set at Commentary magazine's annual roast on November 8, 2026, with jokes about New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his wife, Rama Duwaji. The post has no text apart from the video.
- Author
- Arynne Wexler
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Richard Hanania's X post of Nov. 13, 2026, 15:03
About this source
Hanania's quote post of Wexler's roast clip.
- Author
- Richard Hanania
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Will Chamberlain's X post of Nov. 13, 2026, 14:57
About this source
Chamberlain's quote post of Wexler's roast clip.
- Author
- Will Chamberlain
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Negar Mortazavi's X post of Nov. 13, 2026, 22:43
About this source
Mortazavi's quote post of Wexler's roast clip.
- Author
- Negar Mortazavi
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Laila Al-Arian's X post of Nov. 13, 2026, 03:02
About this source
Al-Arian's quote post of Wexler's roast clip.
- Author
- Laila Al-Arian
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Khaled Elgindy's X post of Nov. 12, 2026, 21:27
About this source
Elgindy's quote post of Wexler's roast clip.
- Author
- Khaled Elgindy
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Daniel B. Shapiro's X post of Nov. 13, 2026, 05:38
About this source
Shapiro's quote post of Wexler's roast clip.
- Author
- Daniel B. Shapiro
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Arynne Wexler's X post of Nov. 13, 2026, 14:50
About this source
Wexler's post with an animated image captioned as footage of Piers Morgan.
- Author
- Arynne Wexler
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Arynne Wexler's X post of Nov. 13, 2026, 14:38
About this source
Wexler's quote post of a Piers Morgan Uncensored post in which the comedian Dave Smith says his grandfather, who escaped Nazi Germany, loved Holocaust jokes.
- Author
- Arynne Wexler
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Piers Morgan's X post of Nov. 13, 2026, 20:05
About this source
Morgan's quote post of his own earlier post on Wexler's clip, about the replies it drew.
- Author
- Piers Morgan
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Piers Morgan's X post of Nov. 13, 2026, 16:04
About this source
Morgan's quote post answering Wexler's post that shared a Piers Morgan Uncensored clip of the comedian Dave Smith.
- Author
- Piers Morgan
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Piers Morgan's X post of Nov. 13, 2026, 03:43
About this source
Morgan's quote post of Wexler's roast clip.
- Author
- Piers Morgan
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
VT: Arynne Wexler's 'racist' jokes about Zohran Mamdani draw criticism
Relevant passage: Article text
About this source
VT report on the clip from Wexler's set at Commentary magazine's annual fundraising roast on November 8, 2026, transcribing her jokes about Mamdani and Duwaji and noting the criticism, including Piers Morgan's.
- Author
- Tom Wood
- Published
- Accessed
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Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Comedian Arynne Wexler's roast jokes about Zohran Mamdani and Rama Duwaji draw Islamophobia charges; Piers Morgan calls them "disgusting"
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/cases/arynne-wexler-roast-jokes-zohran-mamdani-rama-duwaji
The Dispute Index. "Comedian Arynne Wexler's roast jokes about Zohran Mamdani and Rama Duwaji draw Islamophobia charges; Piers Morgan calls them "disgusting"". First published: 2026-11-14. Last updated: 2026-11-14. https://disputeindex.com/cases/arynne-wexler-roast-jokes-zohran-mamdani-rama-duwaji