A viral chant celebrating New York’s varsity and the Knicks’ NBA Finals run has taken over social media, turning a 23-year-old fan into an unlikely internet persona at the center of the city’s basketball fever.The New York Knicks won 4–1 in the NBA Finals and won their first championship since the 1970s. The streets of Manhattan were filled with blue and orange as excitement grew throughout the city.Amidst the basketball buzz, a little chant posted online has become a cultural talking point beyond the game.“My mayor is Muslimmy bagel is jewishmy christian diorKnock in fourThe lines were first shouted in a viral TikTok video by 23-year-old Knicks supporter MD Ahnaf Hussain, in a clip branded by prediction markets company Kalshi. The video went so viral that the slogan even started appearing on merchandise like T-shirts and hats.The New York Times described this chant as “pure New York City poetry”.Hussain later appeared in a follow-up video, updating the chant to reflect the ongoing series:“My mayor is still a Muslimmy bagel is still jewishThe Pope is on our sideKnock in fiveThe clip was filmed in New York and even included a playful reference to the Pope as the Knicks continued their championship push.Speaking about the origins of the chant, Hussain said that its intention was to bring people together. “I grew up with Jews, Muslims, Haitians, Pakistanis, Bengalis,” he told The Washington Post.He added, “I just had to bring everyone together.”Hussain himself reacted calmly to his sudden online attention: “I think the spirit of the game is bringing a kind of love that we haven’t seen in the city in a long time,” he told The New York Times. In the interview, Hussain said: “I grew up with Jews, Muslims, Haitians, Pakistanis, Bengalis.”The Washington Post identified him as someone who moved from Bangladesh to Jamaica, Queens, as a child.
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“My mayor is still a Muslim”This refers to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The row highlights that the city’s mayor is Muslim and celebrates New York’s multicultural identity. The word “still” was added to the updated version of the chant.“My bagel is still Jewish”Bagels are closely associated with New York’s Jewish community, which played a major role in popularizing them in the city. The line is a playful nod to New York’s Jewish heritage and food culture.“The Pope is on our side”This is a cheeky reference to a Knicks fan who went viral online for celebrating in Vatican City during the NBA Finals. It jokingly suggests that the Pope is also supporting the Knicks.“Knicks in Five”This is a sports prediction. Fans often say “Team in X” to predict how many games it will take for their team to win a playoff series. After the Knicks lost one game, “Knicks in four” was no longer possible, so Hussain updated the chant to predict a championship win in five games.“My Christian Dior”This line is a reference to Christian Dior, the famous French luxury fashion brand commonly known as Dior.The viral moment has been linked to both sports excitement and New York’s broader cultural identity. The chant blends humor, religion, fashion references, and basketball prediction culture. It also revolves around American pop culture.