Controversy Surrounds Kaif Gilani, Co-Founder of “Hot Girls for Zoran” Campaign
Kaif Gilani, known for the viral campaign “Hot Girls for Zoran,” which helped Zoran Mamdani become the mayor of New York City, has faced significant backlash due to previous posts filled with anti-police sentiments and jokes targeting white individuals on his X account.
Posting under the username @chunkyfila, Gilani came under fire recently after individuals within the Jewish community scrutinized his social media activity, especially concerning his pro-Hamas posts. A review of his account revealed inflammatory content that spans beyond just Middle Eastern issues.
Back in May 2020, Gilani fondly recalled his high school track days, sharing a past altercation with a police officer: “I remember when a cop stopped me at school, I said, ‘F*** the cops.’ One guy on my team chimed in, ‘My dad’s a cop, so f*** your dad too.’
I remember when I was in track and field a long time ago, a police officer stopped me at school and I said, “F*** the cops,” and one of the guys on the team said, “Hey, you said my dad is a cop, so your father is a b**** too.”
— Chunkyfila (@chunkyfila) May 21, 2020
This post garnered significant engagement, with over 300 likes.
Following the George Floyd protests, Gilani made a prediction about the future of white supremacists’ children, stating, “In 200 years, they’ll say, ‘We’re the sons of cops who couldn’t defund us.'” He was actively promoting the movement to abolish the Minneapolis Police Department, linking it to discussions about life without police in society today.
In 200 years, the kids of white supremacists are going to be like, “We’re the sons of cops who couldn’t exempt us from taxes.”
— Chunkyfila (@chunkyfila) June 5, 2020
Later, in September 2020, Gilani commented on the trailer for Netflix’s Emily in Paris, criticizing the film’s diversity while bizarrely calling for Mindy Chen, a character in the show, to be fired, claiming her role was insignificant.
I don’t think anyone has a speaking role in this movie. And before you say her Asian best friend in the trailer, she doesn’t count, that girl definitely says the n-word.
— Chunkyfila (@chunkyfila) September 2, 2020
The reasons behind the recent scrutiny remain somewhat ambiguous.
On Thanksgiving 2020, he posted a tweet about his girlfriend, revealing she had tested positive for COVID-19 but still participated in holiday traditions. This received over 3,000 likes.
My white girlfriend came to my parents’ house knowing she had tested positive for the coronavirus and continued our family’s Thanksgiving tradition of killing Indians for the holiday.
— Chunkyfila (@chunkyfila) November 26, 2020
In January 2021, after the Capitol riots, Gilani expressed strong opinions about police conduct and dismissed those using the phrase “say her name” in relation to Ashli Babbitt, who was shot by Capitol Police.
Obviously the police are s*** and they should never be able to publicly execute someone. But don’t steal the phrase “say her name.” If you’re using it to justify the stupid actions of non-white supremacists, please stop.
— Chunkyfila (@chunkyfila) January 7, 2021
Gilani has positioned himself as a self-proclaimed authority on racial authenticity, critiquing others for their presumed understanding of black experiences. In December 2019, he remarked, “Just because your mother is black doesn’t mean you know what it’s like to be black in this day and age.”
Just because your mother is black doesn’t mean she knows what it’s like to live as a black person in this day and age. Your experience is unmatched and you have no right to use that word.
— Chunkyfila (@chunkyfila) December 2, 2019
Gilani co-produced the “Hot Girls for Zoran” campaign in early 2025, alongside Ket Camelia. This grassroots effort gained traction on social media, attracting the attention of various celebrities, which is credited with energizing young voters and assisting Mamdani in defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo in both the Democratic primary and general election.
After Mamdani’s triumph, Gilani leveraged his political ties to secure a $15,000 consulting contract with former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander’s congressional campaign. This expenditure became the most significant in Lander’s first Federal Election Commission filing, though Lander’s campaign later stated that he terminated the contract upon learning about Gilani’s problematic posts.
Moreover, Gilani holds a position as Vice President at Citibank’s Enterprise Data Office. The bank is currently “looking into the matter,” as per their communication.
In response to the scrutiny surrounding his past posts, Gilani refrained from addressing the allegations directly, instead characterizing the attention as an attack on Islam. He expressed gratitude toward “my many Jewish friends who share my views,” concluding with, “Free Palestine.”
