During the opening of the MITsp festival at Teatro Liberdade in São Paulo, cultural secretary Totó Parente was met with boos and confrontations from the audience. The criticism was largely directed at his administration's decision to close the Teatro de Contêiner, a move that has sparked protests among the local theatrical community. Many attendees expressed their dissatisfaction with the government's cultural policies, underscoring tensions between the administration and the artistic community.

In his defense, Parente highlighted that the city has opened five new theater spaces, all located in marginalized areas, as part of its commitment to cultural expansion. He maintained a defiant stance against the boos, asserting that he was unfazed and drawing on his past experiences in student movements to frame the criticism as a normal part of democratic discourse. His comments, however, did not appease the crowd, who continued to voice their discontent.

As his speech concluded and music began to play, Parente's shout of "long live democracy" provoked even stronger boos from the audience, further illustrating the mounting frustration with the local government's cultural management. The event showcased the ongoing conflicts between public officials and cultural representatives, highlighting the complexities of managing cultural policies in a diverse metropolis like São Paulo.