US pub kicks off the World Cup with fake ‘favela’
Social media users cry foul after bar constructs replica of Brazilian slum neighbourhood.
A US pub is marking the World Cup by building a replica of a Brazilian slum neighbourhood, or favela. Fans can watch the tournament inside the mock favela, built by the Nomad World Pub in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Many online called the building a case of cultural appropriation and said it downplayed the experiences of Brazilians living in favelas, many of whom have been displaced in the preparation for the games.
“We weren’t expecting the criticism,” pub manager Keanan Kopplin told the Journal Sentinel. “[The favela] was supposed to be a celebration and compliment to the spirit of Brazil”. Despite this, some are still debating whether the establishment made the right theme choice.