New York Knicks Send Cease-and-Desist to Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani Over Logo Use

The New York Knicks have issued a cease-and-desist letter to mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani after his campaign aired an advertisement during the Knicks' season opener featuring a modified version of the team's logo with "Zohran" replacing "Knicks." The Knicks clarified they do not endorse Mamdani and object to his use of their copyrighted logo, warning that they will pursue all legal remedies if the campaign does not remove or alter the ad. The ad, which has since been removed from Mamdani's official social media but remains visible through other postings, featured footage of basketball with narration emphasizing a hopeful New York future. Mamdani's campaign acknowledged adjustments to the ad and expressed pride in supporting the Knicks despite the lack of official endorsement. The situation unfolds amid a tightly contested New York City mayoral race where Mamdani, a Democratic socialist, is the frontrunner, facing opponents including Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa. Additionally, President Donald Trump has commented privately on the race, expressing a preference for a Democrat over Mamdani, whom he refers to as a communist, and doubting the effectiveness of potential candidate dropouts to prevent Mamdani's victory.