Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) said that a story in The Times of London newspaper discussing New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani was “false and fabricated”.
“I want to be 100% clear: The Times of London story is completely false and fabricated. It was just brought to my attention and I am amazed. I never spoke to that reporter and never said these things. Those quotes are not mine, do not reflect my views,” de Blasio said in a Post on social platform Tuesday
The former New York City mayor’s post contained a link For a Times story Of London which appears to have been removed.
The New York Times reported that the Times of London published an article Reportedly special comment De Blasio criticized Mamdani’s policy proposals. De Blasio said Tuesday that the statements he was reported to have made were fabricated, according to the Times, adding that he had not spoken to the Times of London.
“I’m amazed,” de Blasio said, according to the Times. “This is a complete fabrication.”
Hours after publication, the Times of London removed the article, “after discovering that our reporter had been misled by a man falsely claiming to be the former mayor of New York,” according to a statement from the newspaper obtained by The Times.
In a later post on X, de Blasio requested that “@thetimes remove this story immediately.”
He said, “This is a complete violation of journalistic ethics. The truth is that I fully support @ZohranKMamdani and believe his vision is both necessary and achievable.”
A spokesperson for former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running for mayor as an independent, shared a story from the New York Post About the interview on X, The New York Times reported.
Cuomo campaign spokesman Rich Azzopardi said in his post that de Blasio read Mamdani’s “fine print” and found they were “just glitter and vibes.”
The Hill has contacted The Times of London for comment.
de blasio supported Mamdani To lead the country’s largest city In a September op-ed The New York Daily News states that Mamdani is “continuing to challenge the status quo of deepening malignancy.” He praised the New York State Assembly member’s call for “bold comprehensive action” including a rent freeze, universal child care for children up to age 5, and free city buses.
“Yet, although many New Yorkers agree with him – many others are skeptical. Still others have lost faith in the city government’s ability to not just talk, but to act. They want to know a basic truth: Can it be done?” de Blasio said in his op-ed. “I can say with certainty – and I know better than anyone – that the answer is yes.”
