TV host Ratinho addressed the controversy with deputy Erika Hilton again on his SBT show on Monday (March 16). He thanked supporters and defended his straightforwardness, stating he won't change his stance. The row stemmed from his criticism of her election to the Women's Commission.
On his live SBT show on March 16, 2026, TV host Ratinho discussed the fallout from his prior comments on federal deputy Erika Hilton (PSOL-SP). “I got caught in a real hurricane after giving an opinion on my show. Hundreds of people commented on social media,” he said, thanking supporters: “I couldn't keep up with all the messages, millions or thousands of them, almost unanimous favorable comments. A lot of people, really a lot, agreed with me” (sic, original 'millions or thousands'). Ratinho blamed backlash on his candor: “Of all my flaws [...] what bothers people most is my sincerity. [...] When I started on TV and radio, there was no internet.” He decried “patrulhamento e lacração” (patrolling and virtue-signaling) and vowed not to change his direct style. The controversy began on March 11, when Ratinho questioned Hilton's election to the Women's Commission: “There was a vote today, and they gave the Women's Commission to a trans woman. I didn't think it was fair. [...] To be a woman, you need a uterus, to menstruate.” Still, he said he held no personal grudge: “She's good with words.” Hilton filed a suit with the Public Prosecutor's Office seeking R$10 million in collective moral damages, claiming her gender identity was belittled. SBT issued a statement repudiating the remarks: “SBT repudiates any discrimination or prejudice [...] The statements [...] do not represent the network's opinion and are under review.”
