Internet criticises Brandon Gill for racist remark on Zohran Mamdani eating with hands

Congressman Brandon Gill sparks outrage after mocking NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani for eating rice with hands.

U.S. Congressman Brandon Gill is facing widespread backlash after mocking New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani for eating rice with his hands—a common practice in many cultures. Gill reposted a video of Mamdani eating and wrote, “Civilized people in America don’t eat like this. If you refuse to adopt Western customs, go back to the Third World.”

Civilized people in America don’t eat like this.

If you refuse to adopt Western customs, go back to the Third World. https://t.co/TYQkcr0nFE

— Congressman Brandon Gill (@RepBrandonGill) June 30, 2025

The comment drew sharp criticism online, with many social media users labeling it racist. Critics also highlighted the irony, pointing to Gill’s Indian-origin wife, Danielle D’Souza Gill, and her father, conservative commentator Dinesh D’Souza, who was born and raised in India.

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? https://t.co/qYPjE5hrQO pic.twitter.com/LrWk1Pm2pW

— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) June 30, 2025

Photos soon resurfaced showing Gill’s in-laws eating with their hands at a restaurant. “If you’re going to be racist against Indians, don’t go marrying one,” a viral post read. Other users mocked Gill’s apparent discomfort with eating by hand, asking how he consumes foods like pizza, tacos, or fried chicken—typically eaten without utensils.

Meanwhile here’s a pic of Brandon Gill’s father-in-law about to dig into Indian food with roti.

One thing’s for sure, his FIL is uncivilized af. pic.twitter.com/vGgqzWo2HJ

— junglegsus (Mustafa) (@Junglegsus) June 30, 2025

In response to the growing criticism, Danielle D’Souza Gill publicly defended her husband. “I did not grow up eating rice with my hands and have always used a fork,” she said. “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.”

Zohran Mamdani, the son of Indian-American filmmaker Mira Nair, is a self-described socialist. He recently defeated former governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic mayoral primary. If elected, Mamdani would become New York City’s first Muslim mayor.