Several Brazilian humorists have already come out in defense of Leo Lins
Brazilian comedian Léo Lins was today sentenced to eight years and three months in prison by a Sao Paulo court that considered prejudiced jokes made during a show and shared on YouTube.
The humorist can still appeal the decision of Judge Barbara de Lima ISEPPI 3rd Federal Criminal Court of São Paulo who considered that “the exercise of freedom of expression is neither absolute nor unlimited, and should take place in a field of tolerance and exposing themselves to the restrictions that emerge from the law itself,” says an excerpt from the decision.
In the decision, cited by the local press, it is also read that “in the case of confrontation between the fundamental precept of freedom of expression and the principles of the dignity of the human person and legal equality, the latter must prevail.”
At issue are jokes made by the humorist the show “Leo Lins – Disturbing”, in the city of Curitiba, in 2022, and that the Federal Prosecutor (MPF) and the judge considered that the content was offensive to blacks, LGBTQia+, elderly, people with HIV virus, homosexuals, evangelicals, Jews, indigenous people, northeastern and obese.
The aggravation of the penalty took into account the sharing of the humorist’s YouTube that in 2023, which was taken by court decision, had about three million views, according to Portal G1.
In addition to the conviction to arrest, Leo Lins will also have to pay 1,170 minimum wages of 2022 (the date the show was held), which is equivalent to about 220 thousand euros and compensation of about 47 thousand euros for collective moral damages.
In a note sent to the Metrópoles newspaper, Leo Lins’s lawyers have announced that they will appeal the decision and that it represents “a sad chapter for freedom of expression in Brazil, in the face of a conviction equated with censorship.”
Several Brazilian humorists have already left in defense of Leo Lins.
António Tabet, one of the creators of the back of the back, reacted on social networks considering the decision “an absurd”
“One may not find the slightest fun or even hate Leo Lins’s jokes, but condemning him to prison for them is insanity and a disservice. I hope this completely unreasonable decision will be reversed,” he said.
Also comedian Danilo Gentil, host of The Night, famous ‘talk show’ on the SBT channel, where Léo Lins worked until 2022, has already left defense of the humorist.
