People on social media are confused after Fox News' Tucker Carlson was pictured wearing an indigenous headdress while standing next to grinning Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.
On Wednesday (29 June), Carlson interviewed Bolsonaro in Brazil at Palácio da Alvorada as part of a documentary for Fox's "Tucker Carlson Originals" series on "the rise of Chinese power and influence in the country."
"We showed the world the truth about Brazil, about our government, and I am sure that once again, the truth will set us free," Bolsonaro wrote in a tweet about his conversation with Carlson.
In an English translation of an article on the news outlet Veja, after the interview was done, Bolsonaro handed Carlson an indigenous headdress and insisted that he put it on his head to pose for photos.
Seemingly embarrassed, the outlet said that Carlson laughed at the moment and avoided posing.
People took to the comments to share their sentiments on what can be deemed a form of cultural appropriation and improper use of artifacts and clothing.
As an Indigenous Brazilian, this enrages me to "about to go berserker" level.
Yes, the wearing of headdress rules are different than in North American cultures, with some headdresses being okay to wear by regular Indigenous people and even by non-Indigenous folk who are gifted one in thanks for exceptional allyship (as some types/styles are more ornamental than ceremonial in meaning; kinda like the Indigenous equivalent of formalwear).
But Bolsonaro is not only not Indigenous, he's the worst kind of enemy to Indigenous folk (and so is Carlson).
They can both fuck right off all the way into the sun with this bs.