Social media influencer ‘brenndamaral’ posted an “eye-slitting” gesture following Brazil’s 2-1 victory, sparking global condemnation and accusations of insulting all Asians
After Brazil defeated Japan, a Brazilian influencer faced criticism for making a racist gesture. According to recent reports on China’s ‘Hupu.com‘, after the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 match between Brazil and Japan concluded, Brazilian influencer ‘brenndamaral’, who has approximately 18,000 followers, posted a photo on their social media (SNS) story performing the so-called “eye-slitting” gesture. This act of pulling both eyes sideways is a well-known racist gesture in Western countries used to mock and demean East Asian features.
Global Outrage
The post spread rapidly through overseas online communities. One netizen shared the photo, accusing that “shortly after the match, a Brazilian influencer made a racially discriminatory gesture toward Japanese people.”
Netizens worldwide expressed outrage upon learning of this. Online platforms were flooded with sharp criticisms such as “This is not just an insult directed at Japanese people but an act that insults all Asians, including Koreans and Chinese,” “Overt and malicious racial discrimination,” and “A shameful act that ruined the festive atmosphere.”
Influencer’s Response
As global condemnation poured in, the influencer involved in the controversy hastily changed their SNS account ID and switched their profile to private.
The Match
Brazil secured a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory against Japan in the Round of 32 match held on the 30th (Korea time) in Houston, USA. They advanced to the Round of 16 thanks to Casemiro’s equalizing goal in the second half and Gabriel Martinelli’s dramatic late winner in stoppage time just before the final whistle. However, the victory was marred by the insensitive racist behavior of a local influencer.
