Uproar as Brazilian Journalist Claims Brazil Needs to Kill Its Jews to Become as Rich as Germany

Lawmaker Antonio Campos Machado said his office has terminated its contract with Jose Carlos Bernardi since learning about his anti-Semitic rant. Mr Bernardi, who also works for Jovem Pan, Brazil's largest network of radio stations, has issued an apology for the "unfortunate remarks".

It seems quite impossible to cause a public outcry by making an economic forecast, but Brazilian journalist Jose Carlos Bernardi managed to do just that. While commenting on a visit to Germany by former President Luis Inácio Lula da Silva, he was asked how Brazil could achieve the same level of economic development enjoyed by Germany. Mr Bernardi replied:

"Only by attacking all the Jews that we can get here. If we kill a gazillion Jews and appropriate their economic power, then Brazil will get rich. That's what happened with Germany after the war", the journalist said.

The remark caused an uproar on social media, with users harshly condemning the journalist.

What a degenerate..

— Mike White (@Grandabber) November 18, 2021

So mean and unethical for his profession For such a retroggresive utterance 🇷🇼

— alter löwe (@mukasharangabo) November 18, 2021

Many netizens said they couldn't believe that someone could make such an insensitive statement.

I can't believe anybody would actually say that out loud on TV
What are these people thinking?

— Sir Realist💚🧙 (@ArtFanMajor1) November 19, 2021

Others deemed the journalist had criticised the actions of Nazi Germany.

I watch the interview, he was criticizing the left support and desire to be like Germany, when asked about "how can we be rich like Germany?" He ironically answered that. Criticizing Germany once again.

— Luis Abraham 🏳️‍🌈 (@LuiCastB) November 20, 2021

Tweet: "I am Jewish and it is unacceptable for political or journalistic debates to use the tragic death of millions of Jews to justify their arguments. But his intention was not to make apology for the holocaust, but to criticise Germany for Nazism and death against our people!"

Eu sou judeu e é inaceitável que debates políticos ou jornalísticos utilizem da morte trágica de milhões de judeus para justificar seus argumentos. Mas, a intenção dele não foi fazer apologia ao holocausto, e sim criticar a Alemanha pelo nazismo e morte contra o nosso povo!🇧🇷✡️🇮🇱

— Alexandre Rainha (@oficial_rainha) November 18, 2021

Many users claimed Mr Bernardi made the statement on purpose, alleging he was an anti-Semite.

He said it….and meant it ..Punto finito!
It’s a “tactic” anti semites use./do…..it’s meant to Instigare some s…or another.And now it’s become main stream amd accepted since US Dem party of Jew haters …

— Pamela C (@Pammyreign) November 19, 2021

The Ghost of old hitler is trying to get ppl to act on his hate.

— AnnHalloway090 (@halloway090) November 19, 2021

Jose Carlos Bernardi has since issued an apology, saying his statement was meant to highlight the injustice done to Jews by Nazi Germany during the Second World War and was in no way a suggested course of action. But it appears his apology failed to quell netizens' anger.

He apologized. How nice of him. In the sane world it will be his last day working ever.

— LP (@Jael7102) November 18, 2021

He thinks an “I’m sorry” will erase the stench?

— (((Toby Epstein))) (@TheTobster111) November 19, 2021

Jovem Pan Brazil's largest network of radio stations has too issued an apology for the journalist's statements, but didn't elaborate on whether it plans to fire Mr Bernardi. Earlier, Brazilian lawmaker Antonio Campos Machado announced that he had terminated his contract with the journalist.