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Felipe Neto, born on January 21, 1988, is, at age 32, a central figure in the Brazilian political debate. His main political weapon is influence through social networks, currently having 39.7 million followers on YouTube, 12.8 million on Instagram and 12.4 million on Twitter.
Despite its popularity, Neto, who employs around 300 people in four companies linked to the digital world, guarantees, in an interview via email, to the France-Press news agency (AFP) that he has “no interest” in pursuing a political career.
Who is Filipe Neto? Youtuber, entrepreneur, influencer …? Why is the government so concerned?
I am a content creator and entertainment entrepreneur. I create videos for the family, I like to have fun, make people laugh, help ease people’s stressful days. However, on my Twitter and in my personal life, I am a Brazilian citizen like any other, expressing what I think about things that happen. What bothers government officials is that millions of people agree with my vision of “bolsonarismo”, all the more so because it is precisely in the environment in which they have become accustomed to completely dominate, which is digital.
He continues to think that Bolsonaro is the “worst president in the world” in times of pandemic, as expressed in a column written for him. New York Times? [Pode assistir ao vídeo aqui]
He is the worst president in the world in actions related to the pandemic and in all actions related to the environment. Bolsonarismo manages to be bad at basically everything. The country’s economy is going from bad to worse (…), our international policy is non-existent, we are a global joke, inflation is scary. Brazil is sunk.
What were the consequences of giving your opinion in a column of the New York Times? Did you think about giving up?
Giving up means keeping quiet, and that is not an alternative (…). They tried by all means to associate my name with crimes of pedophilia, communism, money extortion. However, thanks to our communication strategy and having a large following, they were unable to achieve the goal of destroying my reputation. On the contrary, they only made my image grow. Then, overnight, the coordinated attacks stopped.
Why did you decide to take a political position and what were the consequences of that decision?
I started very young on YouTube and matured while many people followed me. It’s not easy to grow up with a lot of people watching everything we do. I made many mistakes, I still make them, but I am committed to studying and evolving day by day. I have always talked about politics, there was not a moment when I began to “talk more”, the problem was that the country’s political scene has changed and many people have begun to see the size of the hole in which we have sunk.
Financially it was very high. Right now I don’t have a single long-term endorsement deal. The companies left, the ones with a contract ended up without renewing, even with my numbers breaking all the records of involvement and return of the brands. Millions of reais were lost in contracts. In addition, it also comes at the cost of freedom, as I have to have a very strong security scheme to deal with threats. Besides the fear for my family. However, I do not regret anything, as I sleep peacefully every night, knowing that I give my all in the fight against fascism.
He believes that these episodes can be fought with a law against “fake news” [notícias falsas]?
There is no possibility of reaching the hate articulation gangs through changes in the law (…). The articulation of hate will not stop just because they created a law, which anyone can achieve bargain using a simple VPN to mask the IP. The solution to the current problem of digital communication in Brazil is only possible through two factors: mass education projects to instruct the Brazilian people in the safe use of the Internet and investments in the Federal Police and investigative techniques.
How did you get your name included in the magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people of 2020? Time?
It was a big surprise, as I didn’t even know that my name was being thought (…). Only 12 Brazilians in history appeared on the list TIME, which is the first time someone from entertainment has been mentioned. It was a great honor and it serves to give even more importance to the responsibility I need to have with this influence.
Do you have plans to enter politics?
Today I have no interest in running for political office. (…) The world of politics does not attract me, mainly because I feel that I can do much more outside, as through the third sector, in NGOs and institutes.
By: Eugenia Logiuratto de France-Press (AFP)
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