Go back to Third World: US politician on Zohran Mamdani's eating with hands video
US Congressman Brandon Gill mocked Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani for eating rice and lentils with his hands in a now-viral video.The video of Zohran Mamdani, Democratic primary winner for New York City mayor, eating with his hands during an interview has sparked debate online. While some users accused him of using cultural cues as part of a 'costume performance', others argued that criticising someone for their cultural habits is unnecessary.advertisementIn a post on X, Gill - the youngest Republican in the US Congress - criticised Mamdani for eating with his hands, referencing the viral clip originally shared by the account 'End Wokeness'.
The video showed Mamdani eating a traditional meal of rice and lentils, accompanied by the caption: "Zohran says his worldview is inspired by the 3rd world while eating rice with his hands."Gill responded to the post, writing: 'Civilised people in America don't eat like this. If you refuse to adopt Western customs, go back to the Third World.'Take a look at the post here:Watch the video here: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, 2025The video has sparked debate online. Several users called out the comment as culturally ignorant and uncalled for, while a few others argued that eating with bare hands is unhygienic.advertisement'America isn't reserved only for the so-called 'civilised'. Show me where the Constitution says that. And since when is eating with your hands uncivilised?' a user asked. Another user added, 'You can't debate his politics, so you go after his culture. That says more about you than it does about him.'Several users pointed out the irony: 'How do you eat tacos, French fries, burgers, etc? Do you eat crisps with a fork too?''There are plenty of valid critiques of Mamdani if you're serious about politics. But no, you chose to pick on the way he eats. You must be great fun at pizza parties, with your knife, fork, and corn holders,' one of the users asked. While many came to Mamdani's defence, others accused him of performing cultural identity for clout. Sharing an old photo of Mamdani using a knife and fork, one user said, 'It's so funny that Zohran clearly uses cutlery to eat all the time (even a burrito on the subway), but he eats with his hands on camera as if it's a costume performance for white people to find him exotic.'Another user said, 'This performance is for those who romanticise every unpleasant custom in a foreign culture while mocking their own. Mamdani knows exactly how to pander. Well played.'advertisementSee the comments here: Mamdani, 33, is an Indian-American politician and the son of acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair. He made history this week by becoming the first Muslim nominee for the Democrats in the New York City mayoral race, after former Governor Andrew Cuomo conceded.Known for blending politics with pop culture, Mamdani has built significant online traction through his Bollywood-themed campaign videos.Zohran Mamdani hasn't publicly reacted to the backlash yet. - EndsMust Watch
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