Brazil to deny visa to US citizen Julien Blanc

The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Relations, or Itamaraty, announced there are “enough elements” to recommend not granting a visa to US citizen Julien Blanc, known for lecturing on how to “pick up women”. The ministry says it has instructed its branches abroad to consult with Brasília in case a visa is requested on his behalf.

In Brazil, Blanc has conferences scheduled in January 2015 in the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Florianópolis. His lectures have prompted over 277 thousand people to sign an online petition directed at Itamaraty and the Federal Police, asking authorities to refuse to afford him a visa. The techniques developed by Blanc are seen as disrespectful towards women and an encouragement to rape.

On Thursday (Nov 13), the Foreign Ministry declared that “in case a visa request is received by any embassy or consulate overseas, there are enough elements to make its rejection recommended.”

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira