Brazil Politician Claims Master Bank Hired Influencers to Defame Ce...

Rony Gabriel, a councilman representing Erechim in the Rio Grande do Sul legislature, has publicly disclosed an alleged attempt to manipulate public opinion regarding the status of Banco Master. In a video posted to his Instagram profile, which boasts 1.7 million followers, Gabriel stated that he was approached by a third-party company on December 20, 2025. The company allegedly identified itself as a reputation management firm working for a "major executive."

The councilman claims he was offered a "good amount of money" to produce content defending Banco Master and attacking the Central Bank (BC). Gabriel alleges that the objective of this campaign was to create a narrative that the bank was a "victim" and to shift responsibility for the financial crisis onto the regulatory body. He explicitly stated that he rejected the offer. Additionally, he alleged that other influencers had already been contracted to criticize the Central Bank. The bank's defense team has denied any knowledge of these alleged hiring practices.

Councilman Rony Gabriel detailed the specific circumstances of the alleged proposal in his social media video. He reported that on December 20, 2025, a company contacted his assistant claiming to be engaged in "reputation management for a large executive." According to Gabriel, this entity was actively recruiting influencers to participate in this effort. Gabriel, who identifies as a pre-candidate for federal deputy, stated that the company offered him a significant financial sum to create content defending Banco Master and disparaging the Central Bank.

Gabriel exposed a document he claimed was the contract associated with this proposal. The document reportedly included a strict confidentiality clause. Gabriel noted that the penalty for breaking this confidentiality was set at R$ 800,000. He asserted that the campaign's goal was to "throw the blame on the Central Bank" and to make it appear as though there was "nothing wrong with Banco Master," effectively portraying the bank as a victim of regulatory overreach. Following his public post, the councilman confirmed these details via telephone.

The controversy arises in the wake of the official liquidation of Banco Master, a financial institution owned by Daniel Vorcaro, which was ordered by the Central Bank at the end of the previous year. The regulatory body provided specific reasons for this drastic measure. The liquidation was reportedly driven by a severe liquidity crisis at the bank. This crisis manifested as a lack of cash on hand to meet obligations, specifically regarding withdrawals for account holders and investors.

Beyond the liquidity issues, the Central Bank cited grave violations of financial system norms as a contributing factor to the decision. The regulatory action was taken to protect depositors and maintain the integrity of the financial system. The alleged campaign to defame the Central Bank appears to be a direct response to these regulatory actions, attempting to reframe the narrative surrounding the bank's collapse.

Following the public allegations made by Rony Gabriel, inquiries were directed toward the legal defense representing Banco Master. The defense team was asked specifically about the alleged contract to hire influencers for the purpose of defaming the Central Bank. The response from the bank's representatives was a denial of knowledge regarding the situation.

The defense stated that they do not have information concerning the supposed hiring of influencers to attack the Central Bank. This statement creates a discrepancy between the councilman's detailed account and the official stance of the bank's legal representation regarding public relations strategies employed during the liquidation process.

The allegations brought forward by Rony Gabriel suggest a coordinated effort to influence public perception regarding the financial stability of Banco Master and the actions of the Central Bank. While Gabriel has provided documentation and a public account of the proposal he received, the defense for the bank has distanced itself from the alleged scheme. The situation highlights the increasing use of social media influencers in financial and political disputes in Brazil. As the liquidation process continues, the veracity of these claims and the potential involvement of other influencers remain points of public interest.