Fortaleza Mayor Evandro Leitão announced late Wednesday night that the municipality has canceled the scheduled New Year’s Eve performance by country duo Jorge & Mateus following intense public backlash over political alignments.
The decision comes after mounting social media pressure across the Northeast, triggered by singer Jorge’s participation in an October 20 campaign event supporting Flávio Bolsonaro’s presidential bid. The booking in Fortaleza—announced by Leitão, a member of the Workers’ Party (PT), just a week after the political endorsement—drew immediate scrutiny from constituents questioning the pairing of a pro-Bolsonaro act with a Workers’ Party municipal administration.
A apresentação da dupla Jorge e Mateus no Réveillon de Fortaleza foi cancelada. Nenhum artista está acima do respeito ao nosso Nordeste e ao nosso povo! Vale ressaltar que as negociações com a dupla ocorreram muito antes das eleições. O prefeito Evandro Leitão tomou uma… pic.twitter.com/TTw3yMAWFQ
Fortaleza Drops Duo While Recife Defends Booking
- The Cancellation: Fortaleza removed Jorge & Mateus from its Réveillon 2027 lineup following public controversy.
- The Catalyst: Public outcry surged across the Northeast after singer Jorge appeared in an October 20 video backing Flávio Bolsonaro.
- Regional Contrasts: While Fortaleza canceled the booking to refocus the festival, Recife Mayor Victor Marques defended retaining the duo, emphasizing political pluralism and reconciliation.
Online Controversy Erupts over Presidential Endorsement
The controversy ignited online when footage emerged of Jorge joining other sertanejo artists to endorse Flávio Bolsonaro during the 2026 presidential race. Critics on social media quickly questioned why a major municipal celebration in the Northeast—a region where Lula received more votes—would feature an artist who had declared he would not vote for President Lula’s party, the PT.
Leitão addressed the reversal in a public statement, noting that negotiations for major events take place months in advance to offer the public a diverse and quality program. However, he stated that subsequent controversies had pulled focus away from the core goal of hosting one of the country’s biggest and most lively popular celebrations. According to municipal disclosures, the city’s New Year’s Eve contracts are funded entirely by private sponsors rather than municipal tax revenues, a point officials emphasized as preparations continue for an expected 2.7 million attendees across the two-day festival.
Recife Takes a Different Approach to the Lineup
While Fortaleza opted to drop the act, neighboring Pernambuco capital Recife chose a different path when faced with similar public demands. Recife Mayor Victor Marques publicly defended the retention of Jorge & Mateus for the city’s Virada Recife 2027 celebration, arguing that cultural spaces must remain open across political divides.
Marques invoked President Lula’s post-election message regarding national reconciliation. He stated that the electoral period had concluded and that the city remains a pluralistic and welcoming environment for audiences of all political backgrounds. Despite his defense, the presence of the duo continued to draw sharp rebukes from local internet users who argued that artists who had supported Flávio Bolsonaro should not perform at public festivities in the region.
| City | Mayor | Political Party | Status of Jorge & Mateus Show |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fortaleza | Evandro Leitão | PT | Canceled |
| Recife | Victor Marques | PCdoB | Confirmed / Retained |
Fans Debate Accountability for Musical Duo
Online reactions highlighted a distinct split in how fans view accountability for musical duos when one member takes a polarizing political stance. While Jorge appeared in the video explicitly stating his opposition to the PT, partner Mateus did not make similar public remarks. Social media commentators noted that the duo’s brand now faces collateral damage in the Northeast, with critics arguing that performers must weigh the regional ramifications of national political endorsements.
Social Media Users Direct Anger at Performers
Social media backlash intensified as users directed their anger at both performers, despite only Jorge appearing in the political footage. Comments flooded the artists’ pages, with Manuela Tobiaz writing, Vão cantar no quintal de Goiás
, while Sandro Lins stated, Por mim não são bem-vindos no Recife! Respeitem o Nordeste e os nordestinos
.
Boicote? Fortaleza cancela show de Jorge & Mateus no réveillonhttps://t.co/Bv666zG2KU.
