The team of Virginia Fonseca and Zé Felipe issued a statement on Wednesday, April 8, following a notification from the Child Welfare Council to their daughters' school in Goiânia. The case stemmed from anonymous complaints about school attendance impacted by frequent travels. The couple stated they will not comment due to legal secrecy but are available to authorities.
The controversy arose after Zé Felipe, the ex-husband and father of the children, publicly criticized their routine and frequent travels. Goiânia's Child Welfare Council contacted the school to check attendance records and absence justifications, examining if education rights—mandatory from age four under Brazilian law—are being harmed.
In a joint statement, the team said: “Legal matters involving minors are handled under secrecy by the Child and Adolescent Statute (ECA). Therefore, Zé Felipe and Virginia will not comment on the issue but remain available to competent authorities for any necessary clarifications.”
Family law specialist Guilherme Galhardo noted the council's initial role is advisory but could escalate to the Public Prosecutor's Office if educational neglect is found. Experts including pediatrician Renata Castro and professor Gabriela Mazaro emphasized regular school attendance's role in children's emotional, social, and cognitive development, warning that travels do not replace continuous pedagogical environments.
