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

Brandon Gill slammed for making a racist remark toward Zohran Mamdani, telling him to 'go back to the Third World' for eating rice with his hand
PUBLISHED JUL 1, 2025
Brandon Gill recently came under fire on social media for mocking Zohran Mamdani’s way of eating (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images, X/@EndWokeness)
Brandon Gill recently came under fire on social media for mocking Zohran Mamdani’s way of eating (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images, X/@EndWokeness)

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.”



 

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.”



 

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.”

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 24: New York mayoral candidate, State Rep. Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) speaks to supporters during an election night gathering at The Greats of Craft LIC on June 24, 2025 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough in New York City. Mamdani was announced as the winner of the Democratic nomination for mayor in a crowded field in the City’s mayoral primary to choose a successor to Mayor Eric Adams, who is running for re-election on an independent ticket. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
State Rep Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) speaks to supporters during an election night gathering at The Greats of Craft LIC on June 24, 2025 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough in New York City. Mamdani was announced as the winner of the Democratic nomination for mayor in a crowded field in the City’s mayoral primary to choose a successor to Mayor Eric Adams, who is running for re-election on an independent ticket (Michael M Santiago/Getty Images)

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 

 U.S. Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) leaves a House Republican caucus meeting at the U.S. Capitol on June 04, 2025 in Washington, DC. The Republicans met following the passage of the budget reconciliation bill. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Rep Brandon Gill (R-TX) leaves a House Republican caucus meeting at the US Capitol on June 04, 2025 in Washington, DC. The Republicans met following the passage of the budget reconciliation bill (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

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.



 

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!”



 

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?”



 

“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.



 

Another comment said, “Your son-in-law wants to deport you @DineshDSouza.”



 

“Hello, a civilized person from America. Here's your father-in-law @DineshDSouza eating like this," a critic added.



 

Danielle D’Souza Gill defends husband Brandon Gill amid backlash

Rep.-elect Brandon Gill (R-TX) speaks with a reporter as he arrives along with other congressional freshmen of the 119th Congress for a new member orientation program on Capitol Hill on November 14, 2024 in Washington, DC. The orientation is part of a 10-day program with the House Administration Committee to help incoming members of Congress get ready for their upcoming roles. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Brandon Gill speaks with a reporter as he arrives along with other congressional freshmen of the 119th Congress for a new member orientation program on Capitol Hill on November 14, 2024 in Washington, DC. The orientation is part of a 10-day program with the House Administration Committee to help incoming members of Congress get ready for their upcoming roles (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

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.”



 

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.”



 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online

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