The Bar do Bin Laden in Rio de Janeiro’s Olympic Village is exactly what it seems to be — a hangout where athletes can be served by a bartender dressed up as the deceased al Qaeda mastermind.
The September 11, 2001, terror attacks perpetrated by Osama bin Laden claimed the lives of 2,977 victims. Bar owner José Felipe de Araújo decided soon afterward to exploit his likeness with the terrorist for financial gain.
“After Sept. 11, everyone starting calling me bin Laden for obvious reasons,” Mr. Araujo told The New York Times Tuesday, referring to his bearded visage. “The nickname stuck, so I decided to use it to my advantage.”
The 60-year-old businessman said he has operated Bar do Bin Laden for over a decade. During the newspaper’s interview, a Cuban émigré who coaches Seychelles athletes said he was happy to find the establishment.
“I never thought I’d find Bin Laden in Rio, but here he is. I’m glad to have encountered this piece of the real Brazil,” said 48-year-old Carlos Vizcaino Sánchez.
“That’s in the past. Bin Laden is dead. What matters is the great service,” said U.S. artistic gymnastics coach Kim Tanskanen, O Globo reported Aug. 13.
The New York Daily News was not impressed with Ms. Tanskanen’s interview.
“It’s hard to imagine an American athlete — or anyone with a conscience — bellying up to a bar with an Osama bin Laden lookalike flinging them drinks,” the paper wrote Wednesday.
The Times noted that Bar do Bin Laden has competition — another terror-inspired bar exists in São Paulo.
Bin Laden was killed by U.S. special operations forces that in Abbottabad, Pakistan, on May 2, 2011.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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