Prominent figures from Brazil's right are calling for a boycott of popular flip-flops due to a political message posted on the brand's accounts, which is seen as a leftward tilt ahead of the presidential elections scheduled for next year, LETA reports citing AFP.
In a video posted on the social media of the brand "Havaianas," actress Fernanda Torres urges society to "start 2026 not on the right foot, but on both feet."
Torres, a supporter of Brazil's leftist forces, stars in the Brazilian film "Ainda Estou Aqui" ("I Am Still Here"), which won the Oscar this year for Best International Feature Film.
The advertisement has sparked outrage in conservative circles.
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>eita como ama uma expressão brasileira 🤭 qual é a favorita de vocês? pic.twitter.com/WJ89FvUQ8V
— Havaianas Brasil (@havaianasBR) December 9, 2025
One of the sons of imprisoned former president Jair Bolsonaro, Eduardo Bolsonaro, expressed his outrage on Instagram on Sunday. He posted a video of himself throwing a pair of flip-flops with the Brazilian flag on the straps into the trash.
"Havaianas was a national symbol. I have seen many foreigners wearing the Brazilian flag on their feet (...) but I am going to throw these flip-flops in the trash," said former Brazilian congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro, who now lives in the USA.
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"Havaianas has chosen its side. The right has chosen a boycott," wrote conservative congressman Rodrigo Valadares on social media X (formerly Twitter).
"My feet burn on the asphalt, but Havaianas — never again," stated right-wing influencer Thiago Asmar, who has over two million followers, on Instagram on Monday.
"Havaianas" is one of the best-selling sandal brands in the world. Its owner, Alpargatas, employs 10,000 people and sold 226.6 million pairs of shoes last year, mostly in Brazil.
Leftist congresswoman Duda Salaberta criticized the right's reaction, calling it "idiotic attacks," noting that the boycott threatens jobs in the state of Minas Gerais, which she represents and where one of the brand's factories is located.
