Brazilian YouTube star receives threats after criticizing Bolsonaro

Felipe Neto, aged 32, rose to fame as the most prominent of Brazil’s first generation of YouTube stars, posting irreverent comedy videos directed toward a young audience, amassing over 39 million subscribers. After Jair Bolsonaro was elected president, his presence on social media became increasingly more politicized and he is now one of the most prominent critics of the current government. As such, he has also been targeted by a defamation campaign by Mr. Bolsonaro’s supporters, leading sectors of civil society to rush to his defense.

Thirty-seven Brazilian civil society organizations have published an open letter in his defense and against a “structured campaign” of defamation, hate, and threats from supporters of President Jair Bolsonaro.

The manifesto is signed by institutions such as the Brazilian Press Association, the National Student Union, and the press freedoms section of the Brazilian Bar Association.

“In the last few days, we have observed the intensification of an organized and structured campaign containing proven false information. (…) The intention of this...