António Capelo
The actor and teacher of theater António Capelo, 69, is being accused of harassment, in classes and via social networks. The former Left Bloc Mandator claims that the affection demonstrated by the students has never had a second intention.
Began to be disclosed on social networks, alleged Persistent messages sent by António Campelo To students of Ace School of Arts – Bolhão Theater, for several years.
“Are you gay?”, “Lack of sex” and “Do you want to come?” – It is any of the text content to which you had access to you.
“I received a message from him to invite myself to a coffee. I said it should be mistaken and I stressed that it was his student. He replied not, that it was for me. I was 16“It tells one of the complainants, to the same newspaper.
However, the actor’s approaches will have gone beyond the screens. Some of the reports denounce harassment in the middle of the classroom, coming to the subject to play by the students: “Who will be chosen this year?”.
There are reports of a young man to whom, in the first class, Capelo asked to “do some interpretation exercises”: “He lay on top of me and asked softly: ‘Are you enjoying it? Are you feeling my weight? ‘ Shortly because it was in a class and probably didn’t want my colleagues to hear. Was 15 years old“, account.
The dozens of messages, allegedly sent by Capelo are being disclosed by pages on social networks. Activist Inês B. Marinho released a video, showing several screen catches with examples.
“Distorted accusations of reality”
According to News to the Minute, However, there is no registration of complaints Against António Capelo, neither in the authorities nor in ACE.
Most victims will be afraid of reprisals and to be harmed in the artistic world. Vítor Capelo was one of the founders of ACE and was, for years, artistic director of it. Nowadays, it no longer holds any position in the institution.
In response to News to the Minute, Capelo says he is being the target “ anonymous and defamatory accusations are serious and totally distorted from reality (…) And they call into question their honor, professional life and even private life ”.
“My conduct has always been guided by the professional requirement, respect and Beware of the students. Proximity, affection or support gestures – Like hugs, book loans, meal sharing or welcome in times of necessity – never had any purpose except that of educating, supporting and training human and professional“, It says in the same note.
Confronted with the accusations, Capelo told News to the Minute that he has already advanced with a “Crime complaint against an anonymous Instagram page”.
In 2019, António Capelo was supportive and Left Bloc in the application to the European elections. Num, the party admitting received “by a person, elected site of the BE and former student of actor António Capelo, the face -to -face account of very serious acts committed by this theater teacher“.
Be guarantees António Capelo “He was never adhering to the Left Block”but assumes that the actor “participated with visibility in past election campaigns.”
On social networks. Not only against Capelo, but also against ACE – accused of being an accomplice of these alleged behaviors.
“Internal culture of muffled harassment”says one of the complainants. “It’s not just an accomplice, It is an active part ”of harassment situationssince there were several attempts to file a complaint and all were “ignored”.
Contacted by News to the Minute, the school said that “in none of the school’s self-assessment instruments or pedagogical control bodies of the school was registered any complaint against this former teacher.”
