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| ‘Brazilians came from the jungle’?! Argentine president forced to apologize after ‘racist’ quote causes uproar | ‘Brazilians came from the jungle’?! Argentine president forced to apologize after ‘racist’ quote causes uproar |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Argentine President Alberto Fernandez made a swift about-face after stating that Brazilians descend “from the jungle” while claiming his own country was founded by European colonists, triggering instant backlash. | Argentine President Alberto Fernandez made a swift about-face after stating that Brazilians descend “from the jungle” while claiming his own country was founded by European colonists, triggering instant backlash. |
| The Latin American leader made the controversial remark while meeting with his Spanish counterpart on Wednesday, seeking to distinguish Argentina from its neighbors by citing its historical ties to Europe. | The Latin American leader made the controversial remark while meeting with his Spanish counterpart on Wednesday, seeking to distinguish Argentina from its neighbors by citing its historical ties to Europe. |
| “I am a Europeanist. I am someone who believes in Europe,” Alberto Fernandez said during the meeting in Buenos Aires, going on to cite what he claimed were words from Mexican poet Octavio Paz. | “I am a Europeanist. I am someone who believes in Europe,” Alberto Fernandez said during the meeting in Buenos Aires, going on to cite what he claimed were words from Mexican poet Octavio Paz. |
| The comment quickly set off outrage, particularly in Brazil, prompting a withering response from Senator Ciro Nogueira. | The comment quickly set off outrage, particularly in Brazil, prompting a withering response from Senator Ciro Nogueira. |
| “After reading... the statement by left-wing Argentine president Fernandez about Brazilians coming from the jungle and Argentines by boat from Europe, I came to understand better why after World War II, Nazi war criminals hid in Argentina,” the Brazilian senator tweeted. | “After reading... the statement by left-wing Argentine president Fernandez about Brazilians coming from the jungle and Argentines by boat from Europe, I came to understand better why after World War II, Nazi war criminals hid in Argentina,” the Brazilian senator tweeted. |
| Brazil’s conservative president, Jair Bolsonaro, who has frequently sparred with Fernandez, took a more lighthearted approach, tweeting a photo of himself with a group of indigenous people, captioning the image with “Jungle!” alongside a Brazilian flag emoji. | Brazil’s conservative president, Jair Bolsonaro, who has frequently sparred with Fernandez, took a more lighthearted approach, tweeting a photo of himself with a group of indigenous people, captioning the image with “Jungle!” alongside a Brazilian flag emoji. |
| Bolsonaro’s son, Eduardo, appeared to take more umbrage, asking whether the remark was “racist against indigenous peoples and Africans who formed Brazil” while declaring that Argentina is a “sinking ship,” mocking Fernandez’s reference to boats. | Bolsonaro’s son, Eduardo, appeared to take more umbrage, asking whether the remark was “racist against indigenous peoples and Africans who formed Brazil” while declaring that Argentina is a “sinking ship,” mocking Fernandez’s reference to boats. |
| A mere hours after triggering the uproar, Fernandez took to Twitter to apologize, saying he didn’t intend to “make anyone feel offended or invisible” while celebrating Argentina’s “diversity.” | A mere hours after triggering the uproar, Fernandez took to Twitter to apologize, saying he didn’t intend to “make anyone feel offended or invisible” while celebrating Argentina’s “diversity.” |
| “It was stated more than once that ‘Argentines descend from ships.’ In the first half of the 20th century, we received more than 5 million immigrants who lived with our native peoples. Our diversity is a pride,” he said. | “It was stated more than once that ‘Argentines descend from ships.’ In the first half of the 20th century, we received more than 5 million immigrants who lived with our native peoples. Our diversity is a pride,” he said. |
| While the president attributed his “jungle” line to a Mexican poet, the words actually originate from a song by Argentine musician Litto Nebbia, ‘We Came from the Boats’. Fernandez made the error despite having a long personal history with Nebbia, who said last July he has known the leader for more than 30 years. | While the president attributed his “jungle” line to a Mexican poet, the words actually originate from a song by Argentine musician Litto Nebbia, ‘We Came from the Boats’. Fernandez made the error despite having a long personal history with Nebbia, who said last July he has known the leader for more than 30 years. |
| Like this story? Share it with a friend! | Like this story? Share it with a friend! |