Brazilian influencer goes private after BTS halftime show comments spark 1M+ reactions
Brazilian influencer Pietra Bertolacci deleted her posts and locked her accounts after criticizing BTS's 2026 World Cup final halftime show, facing swift backlash from the fanbase.
Pietra Bertolacci, a 35-year-old Brazilian influencer with over 1 million followers, has deleted her posts and converted her social media accounts to private. The move came after comments targeting BTS triggered a wave of online backlash.
On July 19, BTS co-headlined the halftime show of the 2026 FIFA North/Central America World Cup final at New Jersey Stadium in New York alongside Madonna, Shakira, and Justin Bieber. It was the first official halftime performance in World Cup final history.
Bertolacci called BTS "completely feminine men, vain and people who make all kinds of expressions and gestures." She added: "the most shocking thing was learning that they are one of the biggest role models of the current generation." K-pop culture itself she described as "distorted culture," and she called ARMY "obsessed with idol worship."
The post exploded. Within 24 hours, likes, comments, and shares across X, Instagram, and Facebook exceeded 1 million. X alone saw related posts rack up over 11.4 million impressions. Google searches for her name spiked 2,100% compared to the prior period, surpassing 20,000 searches.
On July 24, Bertolacci issued a statement. The comments were "merely a critique of a specific aesthetic in the modern entertainment industry with no intention of xenophobia," she wrote, and announced legal action against malicious comments. She then deleted the original post and locked her accounts.
Bertolacci's background spans fashion, DJ work, and political commentary. She has advocated for Catholic monarchy, criticized feminism, opposed women's voting rights, and advocated for women's obedience to men. Brazil's Supreme Electoral Court fined her for spreading false information related to Brazil's First Lady. She currently serves as an ambassador for Brazilian beauty brand O Boticário.
Gabriel Perlini of Brazilian broadcaster RedeTV! described ARMY's response as "a level of retaliation with thorough planning and resource mobilization that even respectable political parties would envy."
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