- Tuesday, July 01, 2025
Danielle D’Souza Gill, Indian-origin wife of US Congressman Brandon Gill, defended his controversial remark calling Zohran Mamdani’s eating with hands “uncivilised,” sparking backlash over cultural insensitivity as Mamdani’s viral video fuels heated political debate.
By: Vibhuti Pathak
A video of New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani eating rice with his hands during an interview has ignited a heated debate on social media in the United States. The footage, which went viral after being shared by a right-leaning X (formerly Twitter) account, shows Mamdani, an Indian-origin Democrat and the first Muslim nominee for NYC mayor, speaking candidly while eating in a traditional South Asian manner.
Congressman Brandon Gill’s Sharp Critique
Texas Republican Congressman Brandon Gill weighed in on the video by reposting it with a controversial comment: “Civilised people in America don’t eat like this. If you refuse to adopt Western customs, go back to the Third World.” Gill’s remark was quickly met with backlash, with many users highlighting the cultural insensitivity and underlying xenophobia in his statement.
Zohran Mamdani looked disgusting eating food during an interview with his dirty brown hands. Very very disrespectful. pic.twitter.com/5b91hGMOxU
— Kitler (@Kitler512) June 29, 2025
Danielle D’Souza Gill Stands by Her Husband
The controversy deepened when users pointed out that Gill’s wife, Danielle D’Souza Gill, is of Indian origin—a background where eating with hands is a common and cherished cultural practice. Instead of distancing herself from her husband’s comments, Danielle publicly defended him on social media. In her post, she stated, “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. 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.”
Danielle’s response, rather than quelling the controversy, added fuel to the fire, with many users questioning her framing of the issue and her emphasis on religious and cultural identity.
Social Media Divided Over Cultural Practices
The exchange quickly became a flashpoint for broader debates about multiculturalism, assimilation, and cultural pride in America. Many social media users criticized both Brandon and Danielle Gill for what they saw as an attempt to police cultural practices and for perpetuating stereotypes about non-Western customs. Some pointed out that eating with hands is not only common in India but also in many other cultures around the world, and that such habits are not a measure of civilization.
Others argued that focusing on how someone eats is a distraction from more substantive political and policy discussions, and that the outrage reflected deeper anxieties about America’s changing demographics and cultural landscape.
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
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
— Danielle D’Souza Gill (@danielledsouzag) June 30, 2025
Zohran Mamdani’s Campaign and Response
Zohran Mamdani, the son of acclaimed Indian filmmaker Mira Nair, has not directly addressed the controversy. However, his campaign has continued to embrace his cultural heritage, featuring Bollywood-themed content and an active, unapologetically diverse presence on social media. Mamdani recently secured a major victory in the Democratic primaries, defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo, and has become a symbol of a new, multicultural wave in American politics.
Broader Implications
The incident has highlighted the persistent challenges faced by immigrants and minorities in the US, especially those who maintain visible cultural practices. It also underscores the ways in which cultural identity can become a political flashpoint, often overshadowing more important policy debates.
As the New York mayoral race continues, Mamdani’s viral video remains at the center of an ongoing conversation about cultural acceptance, identity, and what it means to be “civilized” in a diverse America.
