Brandon Gill faces backlash for mocking Zohran Mamdani's eating style: ‘Uncivilized to be a bigot’

WASHINGTON, DC: A Republican politician faced intense backlash online after mocking Zohran Mamdani for eating with his bare hands.
Brandon Gill reposted a video of the New York mayoral candidate, who recently defeated former governor Andrew Cuomo, on X (formerly Twitter) and told him to “go back to the Third World.”
Civilized people in America don’t eat like this.
— Congressman Brandon Gill (@RepBrandonGill) June 30, 2025
If you refuse to adopt Western customs, go back to the Third World. https://t.co/TYQkcr0nFE
Brandon Gill calls Zohran Mamdani uncivilized for eating with his bare hands
End Wokeness originally posted the video with the caption: “Zohran says his worldview is inspired by the Third World while eating rice with his hands.”
Zohran says his worldview is inspired by the 3rd world while eating rice with his hands pic.twitter.com/FDaQfcNSJv
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) June 29, 2025
Gill, in his post, added, “Civilized people in America don’t eat like this. If you refuse to adopt Western customs, go back to the Third World.”

But the 31-year-old’s remark was widely condemned online as racist and offensive.
Brandon Gill slammed as ‘racist’ over comment targeting Zohran Mamdani

One X user called out Gill, writing, “LOL, your wife is Indian. Her culture literally requires her to eat with her hands,” referring to Danielle D'Souza, whom Gill married in 2017.
LOL your wife is indian. Her culture literally requires her to eat with her hands.
— Morningstar 🇵🇸 🔻 (@MissRinaIdrus) June 30, 2025
Another X user wrote, “‘It’s Finger Lickin’ Good’ became one of the most iconic chain restaurant slogans in the US for a reason. Eating with your hands is natural and normal, even here in America. It’s uncivilized to be a bigot!”
"It's Finger Lickin' Good" becname one of the most iconic chain restaurant slogans of it's time for a reason IN THE USA
— The Last Squatch (@TheLastSquatch) June 30, 2025
It's a natural normal way of eating even here in America 🤦
It's UNCIVILIZED to be a bigot!
British-American journalist Mehdi Hasan brought Gill’s in-laws into the conversation, asking, “Brandon Gill’s father-in-law, Dinesh D’Souza, was born and raised in India and has definitely eaten with his hands. Is he going to ask his father-in-law to leave the US too?”
Brandon Gill’s father-in-law Dinesh D’Souza was born and raised in India and has definitely eaten with his hands.
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) June 30, 2025
Is he going to ask his father-in-law to leave the US too? https://t.co/qYPjE5hrQO pic.twitter.com/LrWk1Pm2pW
“This mofo Brandon Gil acts like he comes from this👇🏼 when pictures of he and his in-laws eating with their hands are all over the internet. B*tch, if you’re gonna be a giant racist douche against Indians, don’t go marrying an Indian,” one tweet calling out Gill read.
This mofo Brandon Gil acts like he comes from this👇🏼 when pictures of he and his in-laws eating with their hands are all over the internet. B*tch, if you’re gonna be a giant racist douche against Indians, don’t go marrying an Indian. https://t.co/QAWI04ypyy pic.twitter.com/21VoV8GPVs
— GenXGirl (@GenXGirl1994) June 30, 2025
Another comment said, “Your son-in-law wants to deport you @DineshDSouza.”
Your son in law wants to deport you @DineshDSouza pic.twitter.com/7MjmmPogme
— Sandeep Neel (@SanUvacha) June 30, 2025
“Hello, a civilized person from America. Here's your father-in-law @DineshDSouza eating like this," a critic added.
Hello Civilised person from America. Here's your father in-law @DineshDSouza 'eating like this'. 🤡 pic.twitter.com/PxyyrbW1MB
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) June 30, 2025
Danielle D’Souza Gill defends husband Brandon Gill amid backlash

However, Gill was publicly defended by his wife on X after a user posted, “Your wife is South Indian. She grew up eating rice with her hands. You’re literally marrying into it.”
Your wife is South Indian. She grew up eating rice with her hands.
— Karthik (@KarthikForTexas) June 30, 2025
You’re literally marrying into it. pic.twitter.com/7EcLJx8OwR
Danielle D'souza Gill responded on X, writing, “I did not grow up eating rice with my hands and have always used a fork. I was born in America. I’m a Christian MAGA patriot.”
She added, “My father’s extended family lives in India, and they are also Christian, and they use forks too. Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
I did not grow up eating rice with my hands and have always used a fork.
— Danielle D'Souza Gill (@danielledsouzag) June 30, 2025
I was born in America. I’m a Christian MAGA patriot
My father’s extended family lives in India and they are also Christian and they use forks too.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. https://t.co/pORq7bJPgO
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