The Brazilian Bar Association of Ceará (OABCE) this Thursday (7) established representation in the Public Ministry of Ceará (MPCE) against comedian Leo Lins, who appears in a video making an insulting joke about a child with hydrocephalus , who would live in Ceará.
- Share this news on WhatsApp
- Share this news on Telegram
In a letter, the OAB asked the agency to take action regarding the video, which drew reactions on social media and drew several criticisms of the comedian’s comment. The negative impact of the video and the act led to Leo’s dismissal from SBT, the broadcaster where he worked. The company declined to comment on whether the fact is related to the comedian’s speech.
- Comedian Leo Lins makes a joke about a child with hydrocephalus in Ceará, and the video has been criticized on social media
- Understand what hydrocephalus is, a disease that was the subject of a “joke” by Léo Lins; Comedian fired after backlash
The document argues that “jokes” of this nature are not worth spreading. “The repeated lack of sensitivity and respect exhibited by the artist reaffirms that human beings can be cold and mean in search of moments of prominence and applause,” OAB said.
The declaration is signed by the President and VicePresident of the OABCE, Erinaldo Dantas and Christiane Leitão, and by the President of the Commission for the Defense of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CDDPD), Emerson Damasceno.
The President of the OABCE, Erinaldo Dantas, clarifies that the Brazilian inclusion law prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities.
“The above comedian is known for ‘jokes’ of a derogatory nature, which require investigation to establish whether or not a crime has been committed,” explained Erinaldo Dantas.
For Emerson Damasceno, president of the OABCE Commission for the Defense of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, freedom of expression cannot be a reason for acts like Leo Lins’ to go “with impunity.”
“We emphasize that while we support freedom of expression, facts of this nature cannot be exempted from the law. Institutional inertia in the face of something so reprehensible is not what is expected in a democratic constitutional state,” Emerson said.
Hydrocephalus is a condition that occurs when the amount of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), or CSF as it is also known, increases in the skull. This abnormal increase in CSF volume dilates the ventricles and presses the brain against the cranial bones, causing a range of symptoms that need emergency treatment to prevent more serious damage, according to the Department of Health.
The video, which can no longer be seen on the comedian’s official Instagram profile, was also rejected by the Association for Assistance to Children with Disabilities (AACD), a national body that is a reference on the matter. “The AACD vehemently denies the ‘joke’ of Leo Lins in a video posted to the comedian’s social media,” the entity’s note said.
“In an extremely unfortunate and quite capable speech, he attacks people with hydrocephalus, calls people with disabilities ‘children with different kinds of problems’ and shows disrespect for the residents of Ceará,” added the AACD publication. See the full AACD note below..
Check out the news from Ceará g1 in 1 minute: