Story By: William McGee, Sub-Editor: Lee Bullen, Agency: Newsflash
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has come under fire for putting on a barbecue for friends and family during the COVID-19 pandemic with steak worth GBP 241 per kilo.
The barbecue took place at President Bolsonaro’s official residence, the Alvorada Palace in the Brazilian capital Brasilia, on Mother’s Day (9th May).
A celebrity barbecue chef known as Tche – ‘Churrasqueiro dos Artistas’ (Tche – ‘The Artists’ Barbecue Chef) posted a photograph of himself and the Brazilian premier to Instagram.
In the photo, both men can be seen each holding up a cut of meat by the swimming pool of the president’s official residence.
Tche wrote alongside the photo: “Mother’s Day with our President Jair Messias Bolsonaro. Happy Mother’s Day and may God bless all the mothers of Brazil.”
A caricature of the President can be seen on the steaks’ packaging, along with Bolsonaro’s campaign slogan: “Brazil above everything, God above all.”
According to newspaper Folha de S.Paulo, the cuts the two men were holding up were picanha (top sirloin cap) cuts of Wagyu beef, valued at BRL 1,799.99 (GBP 241) per kilo.
According to the newspaper, one cut weighs 350 grammes (12 oz) on average, meaning around BRL 1,260 (GBP 169) would have been spent on just the two cuts of meat.
The newspaper also revealed that Tche was specially invited to the residence in the Brazilian capital from the municipality of Belem, 992 miles away as the crow flies.
Photos show that the barbecue was attended by at least 14 people and took place after Bolsonaro took part in a motorcycle rally in which hundreds of bikers participated.
Upon returning to his residence, he greeted supporters without wearing a face mask. Photos from the barbecue also show guests failing to wear face coverings or maintain social distancing.
According to data from Worldometer, Brazil currently has over one million active COVID-19 cases.
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