Brazilian influencers accused of ‘recreational racism’ after giving Black children a toy monkey and banana

Two social-media influencers came under fire after posting videos of themselves giving black children gifts such as a stuffed-animal monkey and a banana, drawing accusations of ‘recreational racism’. — Photo by Mike Dorner on Unsplash

RIO DE JANEIRO: Police in Brazil said May 31 they have opened an investigation after two social-media influencers posted videos of themselves giving black children gifts such as a stuffed-animal monkey and a banana, drawing accusations of “recreational racism”.

The outcry came after self-described Rio de Janeiro mother-daughter influencer team Kerollen Cunha and Nancy Goncalves, who have a total of 17 million followers on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, posted videos in which Cunha approached black children on the street and asked them if they would rather have money or a present.