Overview
- In a video posted on Dec. 23, Health Minister Alexandre Padilha announced a new SUS site in Imperatriz, saying it does not matter if people wear Havaianas or Ipanema because the public system serves everyone.
- The debate began after a Havaianas spot with Fernanda Torres rejected the idea of starting 2026 “on the right foot,” which opposition figures cast as political and used to call for a boycott.
- Opposition politicians including Eduardo Bolsonaro, Nikolas Ferreira and Bia Kicis urged consumers to abandon Havaianas and favor rival brands.
- A parody clip mimicking an Ipanema commercial circulated among right‑leaning profiles, encouraging viewers to buy Ipanema and to discard the competing brand.
- Ipanema posted an indirect, friendly message featuring its sandals without naming Havaianas, while coverage also resurfaced TSE records showing Grendene cofounders donated R$1 million each to Jair Bolsonaro and noted Alpargatas’ separate shareholder base.