New York Magazine edits cover to erase Zohran Mamdani's aide after antisemitic post scandal

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: New York Magazine quietly altered its latest cover image to remove a former senior aide to Mayor Zohran Mamdani following her resignation over resurfaced antisemitic social media posts, a rare editorial decision that has drawn attention inside media and political circles.

The cover, which accompanied a feature on the incoming administration of New York City’s first Muslim mayor, originally depicted Mamdani surrounded by his top advisers.

However, the final published version omitted Catherine Almonte Da Costa, who was present during the original photo shoot but resigned before the issue went to press.

New York Magazine defends altered photo decision

Editors digitally removed Da Costa from the image, an uncommon move in magazine journalism where photo manipulation is typically avoided. 

New York Magazine defended the decision, arguing that the image was intended to accurately reflect the mayor's governing team.

"The magazine’s editors decided to remove her from the image, since it was meant to represent the mayor-elect’s inner circle for the new administration," a spokesperson for the publication told The New York Times.

Spokesperson confirms removal was editor's decision

The cover photograph was taken by celebrity portrait photographer Mark Seliger on December 17, just one day before the controversy that led to Catherine Almonte Da Costa’s resignation.

According to people familiar with the shoot, Da Costa had allegedly been positioned in a way that made her digital removal relatively easy, allowing editors to erase her without disrupting the overall composition.

In the final published image, a blank white space now appears where the “W” in New York magazine’s logo is clearly visible. Despite the alteration, the publication did not disclose, either in print or online, that the image had been digitally manipulated or that Da Costa had originally appeared in the photograph.

A spokesperson confirmed that the decision to remove her was made internally by the magazine’s editors, without consultation with Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s team.

While the cover itself carried no notice of the change, the accompanying article by David Freedlander did reference the controversy surrounding Da Costa’s departure from the incoming administration.

Resignation over antisemitic tropes

Da Costa stepped down last month after the Anti-Defamation League flagged several past social media posts attributed to her that contained what the organization described as antisemitic tropes.

At the time, Da Costa issued a public apology, expressing regret for the posts and acknowledging the harm they caused. "These statements are not indicative of who I am," she said. "As the mother of Jewish children, I feel a profound sense of sadness and remorse."

A historic swearing-in

The controversy unfolded as Zohran Mamdani formally assumed office on Thursday, January 1, becoming the first Muslim mayor in New York City’s history.

Mamdani secured the position after a campaign centered on affordability and economic equity, defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa in the general election.