I’m brown, I always have been, says Alexandre Frota, who denies fraud in racial self-declaration

A candidate for city councilor in Cotia, a city in the metropolitan region of São Paulo, actor Alexandre Frota (PDT) declared himself to be brown to the Superior Electoral Court (TSE). In the documentation forms for the 2020 and 2022 elections, Frota identified himself as a white person.

Alexandre, who had to justify his change of race to the TSE, tells F5 that the previous versions were wrong and that it’s not his fault. “I’m brown. I always have been. The problem was that other people filled out the documentation and I never noticed. I didn’t take care of that and now I take care of everything.”

The actor claims that the change was made through an electoral lawyer, with the Regional Electoral Court (TRE), and the situation is now regularized. He softens the criticism he received for an alleged attempt at fraud. “They [as críticas] generate engagement and don’t pay my bills. I’ve always been discussed and judged, I don’t even care anymore”, says Frota, 60.

He goes further. “This thing about me always being singled out is because I am an authentic and true person. In this country, this bothers a lot.” The actor did not explain why he chose the city of Cotia to run for city councilor. “I am happy with life and working on my candidacy. It is a new beginning.”

Frota was elected by the Social Liberal Party (PSL) in 2018, with Bolsonaro’s support, and received more than 155,000 votes. In the first year of the former president’s term, he broke with Bolsonarism, ended up being expelled for party infidelity, and joined the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB).

Four years later, he tried to get a seat in the Legislative Assembly of the State of São Paulo, for the PSDB, but was defeated.