Pastor Silas Malafaia rebuked actor Wagner Moura on Monday, 12, after the Brazilian called former president Jair Bolsonaro a 'fascist' in a post-award interview at the Golden Globes. Malafaia labeled the actor an 'idiot artist' and suggested he move to Cuba. A bolsonarista councilor also accused Moura of hypocrisy.
Wagner Moura won the Best Actor in a Drama Film award at the Golden Globes for The Secret Agent, a film depicting persecutions during Brazil's Military Dictatorship, set in Recife in the 1970s. In a post-award interview, the actor described former president Jair Bolsonaro as a 'fascist', prompting immediate backlash from Brazilian right-wing figures.
Silas Malafaia, leader of the Assembleia de Deus Vitória em Cristo church, posted criticisms on January 12. He wrote: “For this idiot artist, a good government is one that gives a 18 reais raise to teachers and 18 billion to what they call culture”. In another post, Malafaia accused Moura of promoting a “corrupt government” and suggested the actor move to Cuba.
Rubinho Nunes, a São Paulo councilor from União Brasil and a declared Bolsonaro ally, also commented on X (formerly Twitter). Nunes called Moura a hypocrite and “caviar left”, stating: “Millionaire, white, living in the US, speechifying at an award funded by global elites to call Bolsonaro a ‘fascist’. The script is always the same: lives in American comfort, demonizes Brazilian right, excuses Maduro, idolizes Che Guevara, and poses as a moralist with public money. Pure caviar left: Hypocrisy as a cinematic genre”.
Nunes, known as a bolsonarista, has been involved in confrontations, such as a physical altercation with USP students over the Dosimetry Bill, vetoed by President Lula (PT). The criticisms underscore political divisions in Brazil, particularly regarding the legacy of the Bolsonaro government and views on engaged artists.
