A Brazilian court has ruled against comedian Cassius Matheus dos Santos Soares, ordering him to pay R$15,000 for implying that priest Júlio Lancellotti was involved in pedophilia.
A São Paulo court has sentenced comedian Cassius Matheus dos Santos Soares, also known as Cassius Ogro, to pay R$15,000 in damages to priest Júlio Lancellotti for insinuating that the priest was a pedophile. The controversy began when Lancellotti criticized Brazilian football players for consuming lavish meals during the World Cup, including a gold-leaf steak that cost up to R$9,000. In response to the priest's comments, Ogro published a mocking video where he suggested that Lancellotti had a sexual interest in minors, asking rhetorically if the priest would desire a young boy if he were as valuable as the expensive dish.
The court’s ruling highlighted that Ogro's comments crossed the line from humor to criminal defamation, specifically pointing out that the insinuation constituted a sexual crime. The sentence was issued by Judge Melissa Bertolucci in the 27th Civil Court of the Central Forum in São Paulo and also implicated Ogro's comedic company, Ogro Serviços Ltda. in the legal responsibilities surrounding the case. This case raises pressing questions about the limits of humor and free speech, particularly in the context of serious accusations that can damage reputations.
