It is an Instagram post that has sparked heated debate.
Sunday, the account of Marlène Schiappa, the Deputy Minister in charge of Citizenship, posted a publication that is surprising to say the least.
From the back, a piece of hair is shaken in slow motion, accompanied by a message of thanks to the AnS Brasil hairdressing salon for "this straightening which repairs the hair and will therefore save precious minutes before each morning".
"See you tomorrow for the resumption of normal political activity!"
», Concludes the post.
Surprised, Internet users recorded this video and relayed it on Twitter, astonishing that a minister could thus advertise a product and a sign on his official account.
On Instagram, Marlène Schiappa is indeed followed by nearly 40,000 subscribers, and presents himself as Minister Delegate by tagging the Ministry of the Interior.
The video has since been retweeted several thousand times.
Many wondered if the former secretary of state had been paid for this publication, a common practice on the social network, called "product placement".
Others wondered whether a political figure can use his notoriety in order to promote products or establishments, even for free.
“I'm not saying she was paid.
But simply that it places a product (a provision of hairdressing services) via its official account while it is in office in the government, “regrets a user on Twitter.
Not a "sponsored post"
But, immediately, his entourage assured a journalist from L'Obs that it was "a false post" and that the Minister Delegate had decided to pass her Instagram account in private, because of the "harassment suffered since a few hours […] on the basis of fake news ”.
⚠️ The entourage of @MarleneSchiappa ensures that it is a “false post” and that the Minister's Instagram account was passed in private because of “the harassment suffered for a few hours (...) on the base of a fake news »https://t.co/KBIVW9KUGc
- Lucas Burel (@L_heguiaphal) January 3, 2021
This Monday, his lawyer also denied "any use of product placement or sponsored post on Instagram", without specifying whether Marlène Schiappa had herself posted the video or been the victim of piracy.
The press release emphasizes, however, that “hacking attempts” constituting cyber-harassment can lead to legal action.
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However, several Internet users seem convinced that the Minister Delegate is indeed the person appearing on the post, since deleted.
The background of the video shows a decor very similar to that posted in previous publications by the Minister Delegate.
The Christmas tree and the door appear in particular, according to them, very similar.
It's a strange coincidence for a "fake".
Not to mention that the Minister's Instagram account follows the hairdresser named ... We are being made fun of.
On a stupid and demeaning subject, this post promo ... it's sad.
pic.twitter.com/1NuKlBBX8Q
- Valerio Motta (@valeriomotta) January 3, 2021
Others have also shown that the Minister Delegate followed, on Instagram, the hairdresser "ans_bresil", mentioned in the video for the quality of its Brazilian straightening.
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Victim of numerous insults uttered on social networks following the publication of this video, Marlène Schiappa let it be known through her lawyer that she would prosecute "any person" taking part in "these defamatory allegations", "the attempts hacking ”or“ repeated malicious comments on social networks ”.