In a recent political spat, influencer Pablo Marçal, a candidate for the São Paulo mayoralty, dubbed Governor Tarcísio de Freitas “goiabinha” during a social media tirade. This nickname, which carries a pejorative connotation, has since ignited a wave of comments from Marçal’s followers, flooding Tarcísio’s social media accounts with criticism.

The conflict escalated after a recent Datafolha poll indicated stagnation in Marçal’s campaign and a rise in his rejection rates. In response, Tarcísio, alongside São Paulo’s mayor Ricardo Nunes, claimed that Marçal was “melting away” in the political arena. This prompted Marçal to retaliate with a series of posts, coining the term “goiabinha” to describe Tarcísio, suggesting that he presents himself as a patriot but is aligned with leftist ideologies.

As the campaign progresses, Tarcísio has been actively supporting Nunes, despite warnings from political allies about the potential risks of being too closely associated with a candidate facing declining popularity. Recent polls indicate that a significant portion of Tarcísio’s 2022 voter base is now considering Marçal as a viable alternative.