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We don't expect a lot from the tabloids in New York, except that they'll capitalize on society's worst moments and basest instincts when they think it will sell copies. In the wake of the ISIL propaganda video that reportedly showed photojournalist James Foley beheaded by militants in retribution for U.S. airstrikes, today's front covers could only be worse if they were gifs.

As New York magazine editor Abraham Riesman wrote last night:

Jesus Christ can you imagine tomorrow's @nypost cover — Abraham Riesman (@abrahamjoseph) August 20, 2014

You could, if you happened to watch the ISIL video yesterday. On today's front pages, the New York Post and the New York Daily News competed for the most tasteless tribute to the memory of journalist James Foley. Under matching headlines — "SAVAGES" — both covers feature clips from the video that reportedly show Foley in his final seconds.

The Daily News cover, available here if you want to see it, shows the militant with the knife in his hand. The New York Post, not to be outdone, shows the knife making contact. "The New York Post cover of James Foley is as graphic and despicable as we've come to expect," Dylan Stableford at Yahoo wrote.