The Beginning of the End of Truth

The news of the wolf tearing down the straw and wooden houses but failed the brick house became a national scandal. Newspapers quickly caught on to the story.

“Was the Wolf wronged?”, screamed the headline on the cover of Wild Mail. Publishers, eager to sell more newspapers, began to investigate the wolf's past. After all, they said, no one wakes up one day and decides to tear down other people's houses. They discovered that the wolf came from a disadvantaged family, abandoned by the pack and a victim of discrimination because he was the thinnest of the wolves.

The Fight for Audiences

Television channels wasted no time. “The Wolf, Villain or Victim?”, was the subject of heated debates on Saturday nights. Presenters called in experts to discuss the “psychology of wolves” and whether the piglets were acting selfishly when building houses that excluded other animals.

“Why Didn't the Little Pigs Build Universal Access Houses?”, questioned a presenter, suggesting that houses should be for everyone, and not just for pigs. Meanwhile, reality shows like “The House of Pigs: Living Together on the Brick” they showed a group of little pigs arguing with each other about who would have the best idea of building houses with bricks.

The Role of Bloggers and Activists

Bloggers quickly joined the narrative. Some defended piglets as “working-class heroes” who fought for better living conditions. Others, however, stated that “the little pigs were elitist” for building houses that only a few could afford. The movement #CasasParaTodos gained strength on social networks. Animal rights activists launched campaigns in defense of the wolf. “The Wolf was just hungry, and that's not a crime”, we said. They created hashtags like #FomeNãoÉCrime and organized virtual protests demanding the release of the wolf, who, according to some, was just following his natural instincts. “The piglets, with their sturdy houses, were contributing to the marginalization of wolves,” they argued.

The Entry of Brands

Meanwhile, companies and brands took advantage of the scandal. A Construtora Tijomax launched a large scale advertising campaign. “Build with Tijomax: The Brick Even the Wolf Won't Blow”, said the slogan. The company sponsored the television programs that discussed the incident, ensuring that bricks were always seen as the heroes of the story. Other companies were not left behind. The cereal brand “Wolf Energy” launched an advertising campaign with the slogan: “Eat like a wolf and don't lose your breath!”, promoting cereals as the key to starting the day with the same force that the wolf used to tear down the straw and wooden houses. At the same time, influencers on social networks promoted the sustainable lifestyle of piglets, with organic food campaigns with slogans such as “Eat Like a Piggy: Healthy, Green, and Clean”.

The Growth of Reality Shows

The television producers were elated. “Wolf vs. Pigs: The Great Debate” it was the most watched show. Guests from all walks of life discussed the flaws in the pigs' construction strategy and the supposed aggressiveness of the wolf. Experts said that if the wolf had access to a better diet, they might not have to blow up the houses. They also created a new reality show, “Survive the Straw House”, where celebrities tried to build stronger houses and competed to see who could resist the breath of “wolves” chosen from the spectators.

Groups and Minorities

However, minority advocacy groups questioned: “Why are piglets always represented as white animals with pink skin?” and “Where are the little black and brown piglets?”. The narrative of inclusion and diversity expanded rapidly. In an interview with Jornal da Floresta, a university professor commented: “The story of the three little pigs perpetuates a eurocentric and white vision of rural architecture. We need more inclusive stories that represent all forms of construction and all pigs and sows.”.

In the end, no one else knew exactly what had happened. The audience was divided between those who supported the wolf, others who idolized the piglets, and a third group that just watched to see who would get the most likes. The truth of the original story disappeared, engulfed by the media spectacle and by the distortions, manipulations, and agendas of those who wanted to profit or gain visibility from the case.

The three little pigs, once united against the wolf, now quarreled among themselves over who had built the best construction. The wolf, in turn, became a celebrity, appearing on talk shows, where he shared his experience and promoted a book called “The Truth That Was Never Told: Me, the Wolf”.

Moral of the story: When emotions take hold of the truth, fables get lost in the wake of opinions and likes.

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