Aide to NYC Mayor Mamdani Slammed as 'Whiny Bitch' Over Airport Lounge Rants

Resurfaced social media posts show Mathis E. Roy Vigne complaining about lack of airline perks and having to fly with 'ordinary travelers'.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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An aide to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Mathis E. Roy Vigne, is facing backlash after old social media posts surfaced showing him raging over being denied access to airport lounges and fancy airline perks. Vigne, a self-proclaimed "aviation enthusiast," went on unhinged rants on X (formerly Twitter) about business-class seats, lounge snubs, packed planes, and having to "rub elbows with ordinary travelers", leading critics to blast him as an elitist "limousine socialist".

Why it matters

The controversy highlights the perception of some political aides as out-of-touch with the experiences of average citizens, especially when it comes to the privileges and entitlements they feel entitled to. As a member of the Democratic Socialists of America working for a democratic socialist mayor, Vigne's complaints about lacking access to exclusive airport amenities have been seen by many as hypocritical and at odds with his political ideology.

The details

In a series of posts from 2019 and 2020, Vigne ranted about being denied access to American Airlines' Flagship Lounge at Chicago O'Hare Airport, being bumped from business class to economy on Air France, and complaining about airlines' beverage service and waste collection. He accused airline staff of disrespecting him and not liking his "face", and demanded they "fix this" when he was downgraded. Vigne also criticized crowded planes and airports during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • In December 2019, Vigne went on a tirade after being denied access to American Airlines' Flagship Lounge in Chicago.
  • In April 2020, Vigne erupted on Air France for bumping him from business class to economy.
  • In July 2020, Vigne complained that SWISS Airlines did not complete its beverage service.

The players

Mathis E. Roy Vigne

An aide to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, who has been criticized as an elitist "limousine socialist" for his complaints about lacking access to exclusive airport amenities.

Zohran Mamdani

The Democratic socialist mayor of New York City, whose aide Mathis E. Roy Vigne has faced backlash for his privileged complaints.

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The takeaway

This controversy highlights the perception of some political aides as out-of-touch elitists, even when they claim to represent working-class interests. Vigne's privileged complaints about lacking access to exclusive airport amenities have been seen by many as hypocritical and at odds with his political ideology, raising questions about the authenticity of democratic socialist principles.