The Zohran Mamdani controversy is stirring heated debate across political and media circles. The New York Times has come under fire after publishing a controversial article about the New York City mayoral candidate. The report revealed that Mamdani identified as both Asian and African American on his 2009 Columbia University college application.
Soon after the story’s release, readers voiced strong criticism. On Friday, Patrick Healy, the assistant managing editor for Standards and Trust at the Times, tried to address the situation. Healy released a detailed statement on social media, responding to mounting public backlash.
Healy explained the source of the information. A cyberattack on Columbia University in late June exposed sensitive student data. Among that data was Mamdani’s college application, which the Times received. However, Healy stressed that the Times did not rely solely on the stolen data. Instead, the paper directly confirmed the information with Mamdani before publishing.
Healy also clarified Mamdani’s reasoning. Mamdani felt constrained by the racial categories on the application. Since he was born in Uganda, he decided to write in his birth country. Healy insisted that Mamdani’s explanation provided newsworthy context for voters.
Despite the clarification, critics remained unsatisfied. Liberal commentator Keith Olbermann strongly condemned the article. On X, he accused the Times of abandoning its journalistic standards. He suggested the coverage bordered on active campaigning against Mamdani.
The backlash continued from inside the publication itself. Jamelle Bouie, a Times opinion columnist, publicly criticized the article and its reporters on the social platform Bluesky. In one post, he insulted a reporter involved in the story, questioning his intelligence. After backlash, Bouie deleted the posts and issued a short apology, citing violations of the Times’ social media guidelines.
Some readers also questioned the use of the hacked data. While the Times defended its verification process, concerns linger over journalistic ethics and transparency. The Zohran Mamdani controversy has therefore triggered wider discussions about media conduct and political bias.
Neither the Times nor Bouie responded to media requests for further comment. The Zohran Mamdani controversy continues to develop as public scrutiny of media practices intensifies.
For more political updates visit DC Brief.
