A key appointee chosen by New York City's new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, was digitally removed from a prominent magazine cover after the resurfacing of antisemitic social media comments forced her to resign from her post.
Appointment Rescinded Following Social Media Storm
Catherine Almonte Da Costa had been selected to lead Mayor Mamdani's office of appointments, a role central to talent recruitment for the new administration. However, her appointment was short-lived. Offensive posts she wrote as a teenager in 2011 and 2012 were publicised, leading to immediate controversy.
The posts, which included phrases like "Money hungry Jews smh" and a reference to a "Jew train," were first reported by the Judge Street Journal newsletter and amplified by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). In response to the uproar, Da Costa submitted her resignation to Mayor Mamdani on 18 December 2025.
The Magazine Cover Edit
The timing of the scandal created an unusual situation for New York magazine. Da Costa had already participated in a photoshoot on 17 December for a cover feature on the then-Mayor-elect and his inner circle. Following her resignation, the magazine's editors made the decision to remove her from the cover image before publication.
Lauren Starke, a spokeswoman for the magazine, told The New York Times that the editors decided it would have been "inappropriate" to publish the photograph with Da Costa included, as it was meant to represent the incoming administration's core team. The magazine did not consult with Mamdani's team before making the edit, leaving a conspicuous white space where she once stood.
Reactions and Wider Implications
In a statement, Da Costa expressed "deep regret" for the historic posts, stating they were not indicative of who she is and noting her remorse as the mother of Jewish children. Mayor Mamdani, who was sworn in on 1 January 2026 as New York's first Muslim mayor, confirmed he accepted her resignation.
The incident has occurred against a politically charged backdrop. The ADL announced the launch of a "Mamdani Monitor" following his election victory, aimed at tracking the mayor's policies and appointments concerning antisemitism. Mamdani, a vocal critic of Israel's actions in Gaza, has consistently rejected claims that his stance is antisemitic, having garnered significant support from progressive Jewish voters during his campaign.
This episode highlights the intense scrutiny facing new administrations and the lasting consequences of social media posts, even those made many years prior.
