In brief
At a G20 panel in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil's First Lady Janja Lula da Silva delivered an unexpected expletive directed at Elon Musk while discussing social media regulations, reigniting debates over Musk's influence in Brazilian politics and the platform X's role in disinformation.
Brazil's First Lady, Janja Lula da Silva, created a stir at a G20 event in Rio de Janeiro, delivering an expletive-laden remark towards billionaire Elon Musk. While participating in a panel discussion on disinformation and the need for stricter social media regulations, Lula da Silva expressed her surprise at a sudden loud noise, humorously suggesting it might have been Musk. She then quipped, "I'm not afraid of you," followed by a profanity aimed at the tech mogul.The remark comes amidst a backdrop of tension between Musk and Brazil's left-leaning government. Musk, who owns Tesla and the social media platform X, has had a tumultuous relationship with Brazil—exemplified by the platform's temporary ban in the country earlier this year due to its failure to comply with local legal requirements. After being fined $5.1 million, the ban was eventually lifted.Musk took to his social media to share a video of the incident, captioned with laughter, signifying his amusement at the First Lady's outburst. He further added, “They are going to lose the next election," seemingly directing his comment toward President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s political party.The billionaire has also been associated with Brazil's former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, who recently declared intentions to run in the upcoming elections, despite an eight-year ban due to past electoral discrediting. Bolsonaro shared Musk's response to the incident, underscoring its potential diplomatic ramifications.As discussions heat up at the G20 summit, leaders are likely to confront the implications of Musk's influence on social media and its intersection with Brazilian politics, especially under the looming shadows of both current and former administrations.
