Bolsonaro's bizarre remark quickly went viral and #jacare memes took over the internet in Brazil. (Source: AP, scoobydawg1/Twitter) Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has cautioned his citizens that his government won’t be responsible if the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine turns people into “crocodiles” or make women bearded as a side-effect, leaving netizens baffled.
Bolsonaro, who had tested positive for coronavirus after months of undermining the pandemic shared Brazil’s vaccine distribution plans recently, saying that inoculations would eventually be provided free of charge “for everyone who wants it,” while insisting that he has chosen not to be vaccinated.
“In the Pfizer contract, it’s very clear: ‘we’re not responsible for any side-effects.’ If you turn into a crocodile, it’s your problem,” he said, according to news agency AFP.
“In the Pfizer contract it’s very clear: ‘we’re not responsible for any side effects.’ If you turn into a crocodile, it’s your problem,” #Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said in explaining why he does not want to get a #CovidVaccine https://t.co/xcAJWpl4K1 pic.twitter.com/G4yPIw6297
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) December 18, 2020
“If you become superhuman, if a woman starts to grow a beard or if a man starts to speak with an effeminate voice, they will not have anything to do with it,” he added for the vaccine that is already being used in the United States and Britain.
Brazil’s Bolsonaro says the @pfizer vaccine against Covid-19 could turn human beings in alligators pic.twitter.com/y8ZobUFNKs
— Samuel Pancher (@SamPancher) December 17, 2020
“Some people say I’m giving a bad example. But to the imbeciles, to the idiots that say this, I tell them I’ve already caught the virus, I have the antibodies, so why get vaccinated?” he said in his defence.
Soon, his remarks about the vaccine went viral, leaving people confused. The statement also sparked meme-fest online involving crocodiles. Hashtag #jacare started to trend in Brazil which translates to an alligator.
My future pic.twitter.com/Xn6P9sgxzN
— The Pigmon (@HMaiaGabriel) December 19, 2020
#jacare O Bozo diz que tomar vacina vira jacaré…Eu após a vacina pic.twitter.com/wMaNAP2iTe
— Josuééé (@Josu87067757) December 19, 2020
Better be a crocodile than dead. In my opinion. pic.twitter.com/0AWbD5nrCI
— 🇲ₐ丨ⱦ巳 𝜺𝕞Ҡ巳ꚃ staying@::1 (IPv6 rocks) (@lyncgeek) December 18, 2020
🔴URGENTE : Confirmado o primeiro caso de jacaré em forma de gente,após vacina da Pfizer ser aplicada. pic.twitter.com/zUY7Ah3hGD
— Rafael Moura (@RafaellMM) December 17, 2020
Cuidado com a Cuca
Que a Cuca te pega
E pega daqui
E pega de lá
🎶 pic.twitter.com/LTVTsUwQ0t— – era Ana Paula agr é Natasha (@ViuvaaNeegraa) December 18, 2020
Brazilians after the vaccine pic.twitter.com/zQobbxIxDm
— h. (@hemurbach) December 18, 2020
“If anything, it’s made my husband more alluring”, says Mrs Coolaid of Cambridge. pic.twitter.com/4Xu0dvb1qL
— Simon Bonner. (@LodroNorbu) December 18, 2020
I can’t wait pic.twitter.com/MksmBQ6M1W
— Iron Gorilla King 🇻🇦 (@akita_c) December 18, 2020
Eis que vc tomou a vacina é seu corpo começa a mudar#EuNaoVouTomarVacina#jacare pic.twitter.com/tpwWUOsVCz
— uillian (@uillianHP) December 18, 2020
@jairbolsonaro Jacaré no seco anda? Pru pru #pombo #messiasopombo #vacina #jacare #brasil #bolsonaro pic.twitter.com/EoEbtg5W5N
— messias o pombo (@MessiasPombo) December 18, 2020
eu depois de tomar a vacina #jacaré pic.twitter.com/Zb5FkozQ4v
— atomicdog (@scoobydawg1) December 18, 2020
Bolsonaro’s statements are particularly alarming as Brazil’s death toll stands at 185,687, which is second only to the United States, the worst-hit nation both in terms of the total number of cases and deaths.
