RIO DE JANEIRO.– The famous flip-flop brand Havaianas is facing one Call for a boycott through the political arc of Brazil after circulating an ad that was interpreted as criticism of the right as next year’s presidential election approaches.
In a video posted to the brand’s social media accounts, Fernanda Torres –Leader in the Brazilian feature film “Ainda Estou Aqui” (“I’m Still Here”), which recently won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film– Urges the public not to “start 2026 on the right foot”but “with both feet”.
“Excuse me, but I don’t want you to have a good start to 2026. There’s nothing against happiness, but let’s be honest: happiness doesn’t depend on you, it depends on luck.” I want you to start the new year with both feet“ says the actress in the commercial.
The announcement outraged the country’s conservative sector and some reacted violently, such as one of the sons of Jair Bolsonaro, the former far-right president who is serving a prison sentence 27 years old Prison for attempted coup.
In a video on Instagram, Eduardo Bolsonarowho lives in the United States, Throw away a pair of black flip-flopsrecognizable by their stripes decorated with a small Brazilian flag.
“Havaianas were once a national symbol. “I saw a lot of foreigners wearing this Brazilian flag on their feet (…), but I’m sorry, I’m going to throw the flip-flops in the trash,” says the former federal deputy, who lost his seat in parliament for exceeding the allowable number of absences, in his video.
“Havaianas has chosen its side. The RIGHT has chosen the boycott.”published the conservative congressman in Rodrigo ValadaresDetermining the line of your sector.
He is now a federal representative Nicholas Ferreira He made a pun on the brand’s slogan: “Havaianas, now not everyone will use them”.
Almost right-wing influencers, such as Thiago AsmarShe, who has more than two million followers on Instagram, also reacted outraged: “I burn my feet on the asphalt, but Havaianas, never again”.
The controversy also resonated on the left, among MPs Duda Salabert denounces the “idiotic attacks”..
According to legislators The call for a boycott threatens jobs in your region, Minas Geraiswhere one of the brand’s factories is located.
At the moment the group is EspadrillesOwner of the brand, has not responded to press requests for comment. The company employs 10,000 people and sold 226.6 million pairs of the popular flip-flop in 2024, mainly in Brazil, according to its LinkedIn page.
After the commercial The company recorded a loss of 200 million reais (more than 36 million dollars). on the stock exchange. On Monday afternoon, shares of the footwear company (ALPA4) fell 2.56% to trade at 11.42 reais.
The commercial actress, a supporter of the Brazilian left, won the Golden Globe for best actress and was nominated for an Oscar for her role in “Ainda Estou Aqui.” The director’s film Walter Salles tells the years of Brazil’s military dictatorship (1964–1985), often evoked with nostalgia for Bolsonaro’s entourage.
AFP agency and newspaper Or globe
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