At the G20 Social panel, Brazil’s First Lady, Janja da Silva, made headlines with a candid comment aimed at Elon Musk, emphasizing the urgency of regulating social media to tackle misinformation.
BY PC Bureau
Brazil’s First Lady, Rosângela “Janja” da Silva, captured global attention during the G20 Social event on Saturday at Rio de Janeiro: with a controversial remark aimed at billionaire Elon Musk.
Addressing the pressing issue of social media regulation to curb misinformation, Janja remarked, “I think it’s Elon Musk,” as a ship’s horn interrupted her speech. She then added in English, “I’m not afraid of you, f*** you, Elon Musk.”
Her comment, made during a panel discussion ahead of the G20 summit, drew applause from attendees. The event was dedicated to tackling the challenges of misinformation and advocating for greater accountability from digital platforms.
The statement quickly gained traction on social media. Congressman Nikolas Ferreira shared a video clip, criticizing Janja and referring to her remark as an example of the “intolerant left.” Ferreira wrote: “Janja da Silva, wife of Lula, just said ‘f*** you, @elonmusk’ during the G20 Social panel. This is the ‘tolerant’ left.”
Musk, owner of the social platform X (formerly Twitter), responded with a laughing emoji and later tweeted, “They are going to lose the next election,” alluding to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s administration.
This exchange follows months of strained relations between Musk’s platform and Brazil. Earlier this year, X faced a one-month suspension in the country under orders from the Supreme Federal Court for noncompliance with directives to name a local legal representative and remove accounts spreading hate speech and misinformation.
Musk, recently appointed by former U.S. President Donald Trump to co-lead a new government efficiency department, has become a polarizing figure in global political and tech circles. His sharp response to Janja’s remarks has reignited debates over the role of social media in political discourse and the regulation of digital platforms.
The G20 Social event, meanwhile, highlighted global concerns surrounding misinformation, with Janja da Silva emerging as a prominent advocate for stricter oversight of digital platforms in Brazil and beyond.
