Singer Ludmilla turned down an invitation from SBT to receive an homage, accusing the network of giving space to racist attitudes. In a video on social media, she criticized the presence of figures like Marcão do Povo, with whom she has been in a legal battle since 2017. Ludmilla stressed that racism is not resolved with homages, but with responsibility.
Singer Ludmilla spoke out on social media on Monday (December 22) after receiving an invitation from SBT for an homage. She rejected the proposal, stating that the network gives 'voice', 'space', and 'backing' to racist attitudes, referring to presenter Marcão do Povo.
In 2017, while still working at Record, Marcão do Povo called Ludmilla a 'monkey' during a live program, leading to a lawsuit for racism, slander, and hate crimes. On Friday (December 19), Marcão publicly announced that he had been 'acquitted of all and any charges'. However, Ludmilla refuted the claim, explaining it as an 'absurd procedural maneuver'. 'The Justice recognizes the racism he committed against me, but he won't pay anything for it. He wasn't acquitted, folks. In fact, he used a maneuver to escape the consequences', she said in a video.
Ludmilla showed a clip where Marcão thanks Silvio Santos and the Abravanel family for hiring him at SBT, highlighting the contrast with the racist incident. 'I received a message from SBT saying they really want to give me an homage', she began, before rebutting: 'I can't accept an homage while this same network continues giving voice, giving space, backing, and convenience to racist attitudes. This is incoherent and unacceptable to me'.
She concluded: 'As long as this keeps happening, I won't condone racism, because racism isn't resolved with homages, but with responsibility'. The greatest homage for her right now would be justice. The case underscores ongoing tensions in Brazil's television industry involving racial discrimination.