Gil do Vigor disputes journalist's 'fake academic' claims

Economist and former reality TV star Gil do Vigor has entered a public dispute with journalist Álvaro Pereira Jr. following the announcement that two of his academic papers were accepted by the Sociedade Brasileira de Econometria (SBE).

On social media, Pereira Jr., a reporter for the program Fantástico, criticized Gil by calling him a “falso acadêmico” (fake academic) and mocked the achievement by suggesting that no foreign journals had accepted his work. In response, Gil do Vigor defended his credentials, noting that he holds a PhD in Economics from the University of California, Davis, and shared evidence of other papers accepted at international conferences.

Gil stated that the comments showed a “lack of awareness and respect,” arguing that people from humble backgrounds often face skepticism when entering academic spaces. The controversy has drawn significant support from Brazilian celebrities, including presenter Ana Maria Braga and journalist Astrid Fontenelle, who defended Gil’s academic trajectory and perseverance.