Punjabi Singer Babbulicious's NYC Swearing-in Performance Goes Viral, Sparks Backlash

• Punjabi singer Babbu Beard, known as Babbulicious, performed his viral track "Gaddi Red Challenger" at Zohran Mamdani's New York City mayoral swearing-in.
• The performance, featuring bhangra-inspired music, turned a formal political ceremony into a multicultural celebration, with Zohran Mamdani and his wife Rama Duwaji dancing.
• Videos of the event quickly went viral, initially praised for its warmth and representation of South Asian diaspora life.
• However, the widespread attention also led to backlash, with some online users misidentifying Babbu Beard as Muslim and spreading Islamophobic commentary.
• Despite the negative reactions, the moment is largely remembered for its symbolism and bringing Punjabi culture to a global stage.

Why It Matters: Babbulicious's viral performance at Zohran Mamdani's NYC swearing-in sparked both celebration and backlash.