'Take a clear stand!': from Tatá Werneck to Ivete, the push for celebrity endorsements that became Brazil's runoff 'Love Patrol'

Seventeen days before the runoff between Flávio Bolsonaro (PL), who finished the first round with 47.03% of valid votes, and Lula (PT), with 45.16%, social media has become the stage for direct pressure on artists. Part of the PT's online base began demanding that celebrities explicitly declare a vote for Lula, a movement opponents ironically nicknamed the 'Love Patrol' ('Patrulha do Amor'). Tatá Werneck, who has more than 50 million followers, posted a star emoji in her stories, a symbol associated with the PT, and one follower replied: 'Girl, take a clear stand!' The actress was also the target of personal attacks.

The list keeps growing. Fabi Bang, Glinda in the Brazilian production of 'Wicked,' got comments such as 'Wicked is political and Elphaba never stays silent,' with no reply recorded. Influencer Malévola released a WhatsApp exchange in which she pressed Maya Massafera, who has 11 million followers, to take a position; Maya answered in a voice note that she had already said who she would vote for and that she defends trans rights, without naming a candidate in the excerpt. Daniela Mercury publicly asked Ivete Sangalo, on Ivete's own Instagram, to call on fans to vote for Lula; Ivete, who made the 'L' sign at a September show, wore red on election day but did not declare her vote. Anitta, for her part, questioned whether an endorsement video would reach voters outside her own bubble.

On the other side, Flávio's campaign also gained support on Thursday (Oct. 8): former candidate Augusto Cury (Avante), who finished third with 3,448,569 votes, announced his backing conditioned on eight commitments, such as ending presidential reelection, and said his support is not a 'blank check.' The Podemos party also endorsed Flávio. The runoff vote takes place on October 25.