Why Brazil’s Bolsonaro Ate His Slice on the Sidewalk
By Ashad Hajela and Madeline Fixler
That viral photo of vocally unvaccinated Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro, enjoying pizza on a New York City sidewalk, doesn’t quite tell the whole story.
Despite New York City COVID-19 regulations that forbid unvaccinated people from eating indoors, the people who baked and served his pie say he couldn’t have eaten inside even if he’d gotten the shot. The pizzeria was just too small for Bolsonaro and his 16-person entourage.
Sunday evening, Bolsonaro and his entourage stopped by Slice Pizza on 3rd Avenue and 44th Street for an authentic pie, making news with a photo outside.
Slice owner Aktar Zaman, who has operated the small restaurant since 2018, had no idea he was serving pizza to the president of Brazil. “We didn’t know until the next day,” Zaman said, when Brazilians started showing up, asking if this was the place Bolsonaro had patronized.
With only a narrow counter for extra toppings and no chairs inside, Zaman said that just two or three people can fit into the space. The lack of elbow room and the sweltering heat of the ovens sends people to the street where customers can stand at three tables.
Zaman said he doesn’t ask to see customers’ vaccine cards, because most people eat outside. Signs near the door and cash register ask that visitors cover their nose and mouth.
Litun Holeder, who served Bolsonaro, said in Hindi that Bolsonaro’s personal assistant ordered two pies initially, a cheese and a pepperoni. He later ordered three more, adding a meat lover’s pie to the selection. Whole pizzas at the restaurant go for between $15 and $24 each; Zaman said that Bolsonaro’s party tipped them a total for $5 for the five pizzas.
The photo of Bolsonaro and his entourage eating on the sidewalk prompted discussion about the vaccination status of world leaders attending the United Nations General Assembly this week. Several news outlets reported that Bolsonaro and his aides were refused indoor service due to the city’s mandate. The incident prompted Mayor Bill de Blasio to say at a press conference, “If you don’t want to be vaccinated, don’t bother coming.”
Since the photo went viral, Brazil Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga has tested positive for COVID-19 in New York, and the presidential delegation was put in isolation.
Zaman said he was not concerned. “I don’t know where he got it from, but we’re all vaccinated,” adding, “it’s rare vaccinated people get it.”
The influx of politicians, staff and security this week have increased traffic in East Midtown, and the hubbub has been good for business, Zaman said.
He said he usually hires an extra person to help out when the United Nations is in session. This increases his staff from three to four. Business was slow during the pandemic, but Zaman said he didn’t have to lay anyone off.
Since Brazil Tourism Minister Gilson Machado Neto posted the photo of the Brazilian entourage on Instagram, Zaman said more people have been stopping at Slice Pizza. “It’s been good,” he said. “We’ve been getting a lot of customers in asking [about Bolsonaro], and that’s a good thing.”
Correction: The names of Aktar Zaman and Litun Holeder were transposed in the photo caption of an earlier edition of this story.
