Vivek Ramaswamy Goes Barefoot At Home, Faces Racist Jibes Online: 'Third-World Uncle Energy'

Indian-American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has faced criticism from some corners of the internet for going barefoot inside his own home.

The 39-year-old, who is currently campaigning to become governor of Ohio, was seen without shoes during an old interview, clips of which have recently resurfaced online.

Photo Credit: https://x.com/stillgray

A picture showing Ramaswamy sitting barefoot in his home has triggered a wave of negative reactions on social media, with much of the backlash carrying racist undertones.

Some critics labelled him "anti-American" and "uncivilised," mocking his choice to go without shoes during the interview.

The Backlash

"Vivek will never be governor of Ohio. This is unacceptable for America," one user on X wrote while sharing a screenshot from the interview.

"Not even eccentric billionaire behaviour, just straight up third-world uncle energy," another commented.

"Vivek lectures us about education while barefoot. Uncivilised," a user remarked, referring to the Indian-American entrepreneur's controversial claim that America values mediocrity and is therefore unable to produce world-class engineers.

Many of the critical comments were racist, suggesting that his Indian heritage made him unfit for political office in the United States. "Imagine the smell," one X user mockingly wrote in response to the image of his bare feet.

The Support

However, Ramaswamy also received support from those who pointed out that going barefoot indoors is a common practice in many cultures, including in India and Hawaii.

Commentator Ian Miles Cheong defended the entrepreneur and Republican candidate. "The dumbest argument I've heard against Vivek is that going barefoot in your own house is anti-American. I guess too many people grew up on sitcoms where they wear their shoes in bed," he wrote on X.

"Actually, this is fully acceptable in America. You know why? Because freedom, that's why. If you think he can't be barefoot in his OWN house, you need to go touch grass," another user argued.

On Reddit, many members of the Indian diaspora spoke out in support of Ramaswamy while simultaneously criticising his policies. "God, Vivek is insufferable and I'll never vote for him. But these Goras have no place to judge him here," one Reddit user commented.