Roberta Santana, a fast-food worker at Rio de Janeiro's BarraShopping, accused actress Cássia Kis of transphobia following a dispute in a women's bathroom on Friday (24). A video of the incident went viral on social media, prompting a report to the Public Prosecutor's Office. Roberta says she seeks only respect and justice.
The incident took place on Friday (24) in a bathroom at BarraShopping in Rio de Janeiro's West Zone. Roberta Santana, a trans woman and fast-food assistant worker at the mall, reported being humiliated while waiting in line for a stall. In the video, Cássia Kis, while washing her hands, questions Roberta's presence in the women's bathroom and says she "does not use the men's bathroom".
Roberta responded by asserting her right to use the women's bathroom according to her gender identity. She stated: "I want justice because she committed a crime. I don't want money or fame. I just want respect". The employee, who says she has slept poorly since the episode, filed a report with the Public Prosecutor's Office for suspected transphobia, classified as a crime equivalent to racism, carrying 1 to 3 years in prison and a fine.
Contacted by the press, Cássia Kis viewed the messages but has not commented so far. This is not the actress's first controversy on the topic: in 2022, she criticized same-sex couples in an interview with Leda Nagle, leading to lawsuits that were archived or are ongoing, including one for prejudice against transsexuals in Rio de Janeiro's 2nd Federal Court, seeking R$1 million in damages, and another civil suit for R$250,000 filed by Grupo Arco-Íris.
