António Capelo
The direction of ACE-School of Arts, in Porto, resigned this Thursday, after publicly came to the public cases of abuse by teachers of that institution over several years, namely actor António Capelo.
The actor António Capelo It has been publicly accused on social networks of having had with ACE alumni.
Some of the reports denounce harassment in the middle of the classroom. There are reports of a young man to whom, in the first class, the well-known 69-year-old asked to “do some interpretation exercises”: “He lay on top of me and asked softly: ‘Are you enjoying it? Are you feeling my weight? ‘ Was 15 years old“.
But the actor would not be the only one to perpetrate this kind of alleged behaviors at the Porto School of Arts. On the Instagram page, the complaints against the ACE – accused of knowing and compromising with these episodes.
Following the complaints, the school boardwhich teaches artistic professional courses from 10th to 12th grade and from which Capelo was founder and director, firedthis Thursday.
“The Directorate of ACE-School of Arts informs that, following the recent demonstrations and the debate generated around our institution, it has decided to present its resignation,” reads a shared statement on that school’s official pages on social networks.
The school management states that it has made the decision because it considered that “the present moment requires serenity, stability and the protection of the mission and values that ACE – School of Arts represents”.
Climate of intimidation, abuse and humiliation
Last week they began to be disclosed on pages on social networks-also by the page-testimonies of students and alumni of ACE to account for a climate of intimidation, abuse and humiliation within the school and improper approaches to teachers.
To join the shared testimonies on social networks, another, made public by the Left Block (BE).
In a released on Tuesday, the party reports that last week received, “by a person, elected site of the bloc and former student of actor António Capelo, the face-to-face account of very serious acts committed by this theater teacher.”
According to the BE, this report, of facts allegedly occurred more than ten years ago, “is consistent with others, cited publicly in recent days.”
“They needed to eat”
Contacted by Lusa, António Capelo, who taught at Ace until 2022, said he was being victim of a “Kabbalah”with false accusations, and assures that he will fight in justice for his honor and truth.
“Categorically reject Any kind of action that leads to a sexual act with students. I categorically reject it, ”said António Capelo to Lusa, assuming that he read some of the statements that came to public and saying that“ some are a little bit dumbAnd many are not their students.
“There are a lot of people talking against me that I don’t know anywhere,” he said.
The 69 -year -old actor, currently working on a TVI on TVI, confessed that Never felt so “wronged in life”reiterating that the anonymous accusations that are being published on social networks are false and said they had a criminal complaint to the Public Prosecution Service against “an anonymous Instagram page managed by an former Ace de Famalicão school, because it says it is” absolutely against this universe and this world that is anonymously “absolutely indescribable” social networks.
António Capelo assumed to Lusa who, over the years, invited students to his home to “go to books” and “dinner, because needed to eat“. The actor also said that he even invited students to live in his home,” because had nowhere to live”.
“I housed a student from the Algarve for two months, who had an accident in Porto, had to be operated on one leg and stayed at my house. I treated him like my son and now I am accused of taking boys home”Said the actor.
The actor now fears for his continuity in projects in which he is currently involved. António Capelo said that on Friday had a recital marked in the church of Cedofeita (Porto) and that it was already postponed, by mutual agreement of the parties.
“This is hideous. Hide. The people who do this never think about what is on that side,” laments the actor, criticizing the state’s statement, which he classified as “execrable” and from which the party should be “deeply embarrassed.”
0 Complaints against Capelo
Official source of ACE School of Arts confirmed to Lusa today that this institution created on January 6 this year a complaint channel, “following a reformulation of the school’s internal regulation”, and no complaints have not received through it.
ACE, founded in 1990 in Porto, with a pole in Vila Nova de Famalicão, has 64 effective workers today and is affirmed with “a reference educational project in training and creation in the domain of the arts of the show”.
In July, Ace announced that a Professor of the Famalicão Poloon which news of complaints from harassment By students and alumni, “by decision of the board, his bond ceased with the school in April 2025”.
The observer listened to students from various artistic schools, including Ace, who reported “‘Persistent’ and ‘uncomfortable’ contacts by this teacher, including while they were minors”.
