Last Friday (8), actress and journalist Cynthia Benini, 49, saw the father of her daughter Valentina, 19, actor André Gonçalves, arrested over a child support debt of more than R$350,000 accumulated since the couple separated in 2007 he even spent a night at the police station and left the place with an electronic ankle bracelet; and litigation ensues while lawyers claim he is unable to pay the amount.
“I am fighting for my daughter’s rights and indirectly, in light of the public exposure of the case, for the rights of many other women and children who are experiencing the agony of financial and emotional hardship,” she said. universe. André Gonçalves has two lawsuits in court for nonpayment of alimony. In addition to R$350,000 for daughter Valentina, he owes around R$100,000 to Manuela, 23, his daughter with actress Tereza Seiblitz. He is still the father of Pedro Arthur from his relationship with actress Myriam Rios.
Cynthia recalls her journey raising her daughter Valentina, now 19, on her own, discusses her good relationship with André’s other exwives and mothers of children, and gushes about her father’s abandonment: “Children shouldn’t be abandoned, too not in the face of any difficulty. If abandoning animals is a crime, imagine children.”
UNIVERSA: Since when have you had problems with alimony payments and what is André’s total debt to you?
Cynthia Benini: Today I do not know exactly what the updated value of the debt is, but it is already over 350 thousand reais. Valentina’s child support delays began in 2007, a few months after we broke up. As he was still employed by TV Globo and despite being an employee he did not comply with the legal agreement, my lawyer at the time advised me to file a claim for deduction from my salary and the judge agreed.
When he was fired from TV Globo in 2017, there were again delays and nonpayment of pension payments, he even made a soap opera on TV Record and made “Nada a Perder” (film about the life and career of Edir Macedo). ua works.
Were there attempts by both sides to renegotiate the value?
Valentina Benini is 19 years old and the daughter of André Gonçalves and Cynthia Benini
Image: Playback/Instagram
Yes, sometimes (even informally, to help him and encourage a good relationship with his daughter), but they were ultimately not fulfilled, although, as I said, I continued with work on television and others.
In my opinion, a good negotiation (since all processes from Valentina and Manoela are old) should have taken place when he received the cancellation of the contract from TV Globo, with all the children’s outstanding issues settled, through savings, or something like that. It didn’t have to be all your money. But part of it.
He called the mothers, talked, explained that he would not know what it would be like from now on and thought about their future, he was already thinking about the wellbeing of each one, preventing himself. I’m sure they all would . That would be a good deal, as any responsible and supportive parent should be.
What are his reasons for not paying? Do you think they are real?
All his justifications are those already said by the press. It’s not up to me to judge or believe or not.
When a mother has a child to look after (and a lot of “buns”), they don’t say, “Today we have nothing to eat, so we sit idle.” Many women like me, even if they are different socially, economically, racially, color, go through the same situations and do not wait for a miracle or victimize themselves. They go to fight!
How do you support your daughter? Are you facing any difficulty?
Ever since I effectively left the TV in 2017 (by SBT in 2015) I’ve been trying to find a replacement on the market and it hasn’t been what I expected. I had to sell my property, change my standard of living, I accepted help from my family with Valentina as André refused to establish joint custody in 2016 to stabilize me claimed to start a new relationship at the time just in Moved into Dani’s house [André é casado com a atriz Danielle Winits].
I even ventured into a beauty spa with my life savings to try to get back on my feet. In 2017, I met my husband, Ally Murade, who helped me reorganize my life, my emotions, and my career. He still did everything he could to give Valentina what he needed (home and food), but her father’s lack of positioning (emotional and parental support) is priceless.
Children should not be abandoned, even in the face of difficulties. If abandoning animals is a crime, imagine children.
How do you explain to Valentina if you explain it at all what’s going on?
No son wants his father to have to pay the emotional, financial, and psychological costs in court. But for some, this is the only effective way, and even then they still think it’s a punishment, not an obligation.
Valentina is 19 years old and works Monday to Sunday to earn her own money. She is suffering. He lives between emotion and reason. The process is not about lack of love. She really needs our help (mine and his). She is not yet mature enough to resolve all of this within herself and has somatized it at the expense of her health.
There are some reports mentioning his maintenance problems with other children as well. Are you aware of this? Do you talk to his other exwives?
My relationship with all the women André had was good and very respectful. I have always encouraged them to socialize with their brothers and their girlfriends or wives. And thank God she has a very healthy love and closeness to Manuela [filha de André com a atriz Tereza Seiblitz] and with Pedro Arthur [filho de André com a atriz Myriam Rios].
In terms of processes, I know what I see in the press. I never called her to talk about it. I only hope that you and your children have health and peace.
Although it is right under the law, many women feel bad when a man is arrested. How do you feel about this whole situation?
André wears an electronic anklet at home. I could be in jail for 30 days like so many others. I am fighting for my daughter’s rights and indirectly, in light of the public exposure of the case, for the rights of many other women and children who are suffering the agony of financial and emotional hardship and see their mothers in abusive relationships (with their own fathers or stepfathers ) live ) because of lack of money and other alternatives and conditions. For the children who are victims of material abandonment, for the behavior of their parents, for the absence of their mothers who work double shifts to raise them.
We must stop worshiping women’s suffering as if they were winners in life, heroines. The scale must be balanced. Parents and legal guardians are responsible for the custody and protection of joint children.
Empathy doesn’t just apply to those who are being punished for failing to comply with their legal duties. This is justice. If it leans to one side, someone else is carrying a heavier load. There is only the law of men to teach.