Fact Check: Did Alan Dershowitz say he’d ‘blow his brains out’ if Zohran Mamdani became NYC mayor?

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Social media erupted this week after a viral image claimed that Alan Dershowitz had made an alarming comment about New York City’s newly elected mayor, Zohran Mamdani. 

The viral post, designed to resemble a New York Post article, alleged that the lawyer said he would “blow his brains out on live TV” if Mamdani won the election. So, let's find out if there's any truth to the claim. 

Claim: Alan Dershowitz said he’ll 'blow his brains out' if Zohran Mamdani wins NYC mayoral race

The viral image, which circulated widely in early November 2025, appeared to show a New York Post headline dated July 19, 2025, reading, “Alan Dershowitz says he’ll blow his brains out on live TV if Zohran Mamdani becomes NYC mayor.” It included the newspaper’s signature layout, font, and timestamp, making it appear authentic.

The claim surfaced shortly after Mamdani defeated former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa in the November 4 election to become the first Muslim mayor of New York City. 

Social media users quickly began circulating the headline, suggesting Dershowitz, known for his pro-Israel views, made the comment in response to Mamdani’s progressive and pro-Palestinian stance.

Fact Check: The viral headline is fake, and Alan Dershowitz has denied the claim

The claim is false. A reverse image search and review of reputable news archives, including the New York Post, revealed that the image was a doctored version of a genuine July 19, 2025, article about Andrew Cuomo, not Alan Dershowitz.

The real New York Post headline read: “Andrew Cuomo says he ‘will move to Florida’ if Zohran Mamdani becomes NYC mayor.” Both the authentic and fake versions shared the same timestamp — 3.31 pm ET, suggesting the hoax was created by editing the real headline.

Fact-checking outlets, including Snopes and Lead Stories, confirmed there was no record of Dershowitz ever making such a remark. The lawyer himself took to X a day after the election, calling the circulating headline “fake” and adding, “I will continue to oppose Mamdani’s antisemitic and anti-Israel bigotry but with my brains intact.”

Misinformation follows NYC mayoral election results

The fabricated Alan Dershowitz headline is just one of several misleading posts that surfaced after Zohran Mamdani’s victory over Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa. Another viral rumor falsely claimed that a screen at Mamdani’s campaign headquarters was hacked with a message reading “Trump is your president,” which was later debunked.  

The rise of AI-generated fake headlines and doctored screenshots has become a growing concern during election cycles, with experts warning that such misinformation can spread faster than fact checks can catch up.

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