A glamorous Vogue cover featuring former President Barack Obama, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff and Michigan Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed has sparked a fierce online reaction.
There was just one catch: the cover was not real.
Self-described comedian Brian Marquis shared the seemingly AI-generated image on Instagram Tuesday.
It spread almost instantly, with thousands of people around the world mistaking the fabricated photo shoot for an authentic Vogue feature.
In the fake cover image, Mamdani wears a pair of jeans, a black V-neck sweater and a long brown coat.
Obama stands beside him in a navy suit, smiling toward the camera.
Ossoff leans against a wall nearby in a velvet sports jacket, dress pants and glasses.
El-Sayed also appears in the image, seated on a stool in a green long-sleeve shirt and black trousers.
A fake Vogue cover featuring former President Barack Obama, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff and Michigan Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed triggered an online uproar after comedian Brian Marquis shared it
Obama backed Ossoff during an appearance in Georgia on October 28, calling him the ‘only common-sense choice in this race.’ The pair are pictured together at the rally
The words ‘The men of style’ were printed across the image, followed by: ‘Obama and the moderns. Global leaders, fashion icons: a unique Vogue conversation.’
The cover also featured a bold white headline reading: ‘Men who appreciate women.’
The post has since attracted more than 363,000 likes and thousands of comments. While many users quickly recognized that the cover was fake, others admitted they initially believed it was genuine.
‘Please god tell me this is not AI,’ one user wrote.
‘I always fall for AI,’ another person confessed.
‘Is this real?’ a third user asked. ‘Because YES.’
EXPLORE MORE: California Union Leader Dave Regan Spent $47M on Two Failed Ballot Measures
Several commenters even urged Vogue to turn the concept into a real feature. ‘I wanted this to be real so bad,’ one fan wrote.
Another joked that President Donald Trump might believe the cover was authentic and be annoyed that he was left out. ‘I wonder if Trump is going to tweet about why he didn’t get picked for this,’ the user wrote.
Marquis shared the seemingly AI-generated fake cover on Instagram Tuesday, and it went viral almost immediately. Mamdani, pictured here at a Halloween event on October 30, was among those featured
Obama endorsed Ossoff during an October 28 appearance in Georgia, calling him the ‘only common-sense choice in this race.’
‘And it’s not just because he’s so put-together. It’s not because he looks like a Kennedy, all handsome in the videos,’ Obama joked.
‘It’s because he learned from his mentor, and my mentor – one of the greats, John Lewis – what it means to stir up some good trouble. That’s what he’s been doing on your behalf.’
Voters appeared to agree. Ossoff was comfortably re-elected Tuesday night, with independent election results monitor Decision Desk projecting his victory just 18 minutes after polls closed.
The Georgia Democrat has emerged as a national political figure, and his decisive win is likely to fuel further speculation that he could seek the White House in 2028.
Ossoff was comfortably re-elected Tuesday night, with independent election results monitor Decision Desk projecting his victory just 18 minutes after polls closed
Obama appears at a rally last week
Ossoff defeated Trump’s hand-picked Republican challenger, Mike Collins, in a state Trump carried just two years ago.
In his victory speech, Ossoff struck a defiant note. He said Democrats had plenty to celebrate but warned that the broader fight to confront America’s most serious problems was only beginning.
‘The underlying crisis gripping our republic remains, and that therefore, our most vital work lies ahead,’ Ossoff said.
He argued that the political system continued to favor wealthy and powerful interests while ordinary Americans struggled with rising living costs and healthcare expenses.
Ossoff also promised to continue challenging big pharmaceutical companies, insurers and major technology firms, saying they must be held accountable.
Which US president best reflects YOUR political views?
