Abdul El-Sayed's bizarre Instagram admission... and the darker warning for teenagers

By SAMANTHA LOREN, US POLITICAL REPORTER Published: 22:51, 5 August 2026 | Updated: 22:51, 5 August 2026 Progressive Democrat Abdul El-Sayed has clinched Michigan's Democratic Senate nomination – but a bizarre explanation for why his Instagram feed is filled with OnlyFans models is already raising eyebrows. A resurfaced video shared by the X account RNC Research on election day shows El-Sayed speaking from his home gym during a June interview with The Lever, where he claimed Instagram's algorithm was serving him adult content simply because of his age and gender. 'You think about... if you're on Instagram, my team has access to my Instagram account and the things that I actually look at on Instagram, right? Of course we get served that on your For You page,' El-Sayed said. 'But then, like every third video that scrolls on its own is gonna be some OnlyFans model. And it's because it clocked me as being a 40-something-year-old man.' He contrasted his own experience with that of teenagers, arguing: 'Now if you were to look at the Instagram For You page for a kid who's 14... that ad is coming a lot faster.' El-Sayed said the issue was not whether such content should exist, but whether social media algorithms should aggressively push it toward users. 'Again, should be perfectly legal. But should not be right there and pushed onto you by an algorithm that reads who you are and figures out your limbic system before you do,' he said. Instagram says recommendations shown in users' feeds, Reels and Explore pages are based on several factors, including the accounts they follow, posts they have liked, saved or commented on, previous interactions with similar accounts, the popularity of content and broader engagement signals. Michigan Democratic Senate pick Abdul El-Sayed said his Instagram feed of OnlyFans models every 'third video' is because the app knows he's a '40-something-year-old man' El-Sayed has been married to psychiatrist Dr. Sarah Jukaku since 2006, after the pair met as students at the University of Michigan through the Muslim Students' Association. They have two children El-Sayed led Representative Haley Stevens 48.5 percent to 47.5 percent. The Associated Press called the race Wednesday morning, hours after NBC News projected his victory El-Sayed has been married to psychiatrist Dr Sarah Jukaku since 2006, after the pair met as students at the University of Michigan through the Muslim Students' Association. The couple married in May 2006 before either had completed their studies. Speaking to The Michigan Daily shortly after their wedding, Jukaku revealed that El-Sayed proposed while she was still a freshman, recalling his words: 'We're still growing, now we can grow together.' Despite her husband's high-profile political career, Dr. Jukaku has largely remained out of the spotlight, making only occasional appearances alongside him on the campaign trail while continuing her work as a mental health physician. They have two daughters, Emmalee, 8, and Serene, 3. The resurfaced clip emerged just as El-Sayed secured a razor-thin victory over moderate Representative Haley Stevens in Michigan's Democratic Senate primary. With 99 percent of ballots counted, El-Sayed led Stevens 48.5 percent to 47.5 percent. The Associated Press called the race Wednesday morning, hours after NBC News projected his victory. President Donald Trump seized on the result, branding El-Sayed a 'Communist loser who hates Jews and Israel' while simultaneously celebrating his nomination as 'Great news for the Republican Party.' 'As usual, the Polls were way off on this one. She was not expected to do nearly as well as she did,' Trump wrote on Truth Social, referring to Stevens. 'Now, the Democrats' crazy policies will only get worse.' Republicans have long viewed El-Sayed as a favorable general election opponent for GOP nominee Mike Rogers, who ran unopposed after Trump's early endorsement effectively cleared the Republican primary field. El-Sayed has already challenged Rogers to five debates as the two prepare for what is expected to be one of the country's most closely watched Senate races.