Hours earlier, the STF minister questioned whether it would be offensive to portray Zema as a “homosexual doll”; magistrate has criticized the former governor’s satires against the Supreme Court
Minister Gilmar Mendes, from , used his profile on X on Thursday (April 23, 2026) to apologize for suggesting that “homosexual” It’s an offense. In an interview with the portal Metropolisesthe judge questioned whether it would not be offensive to portray the former governor of Minas Gerais and pre-candidate for President, (Novo-MG), like a “homosexual doll”.
Gilmar said he was wrong, but reiterated his criticism of Zema’s satires. In the publication, the Dean of the Court stated the following: “There is an industry of defamation and slanderous accusations against the Supreme Court. I’ll face her. And I’m not afraid to admit a mistake. I was wrong when I mentioned homosexuality when referring to what would be an insulting accusation against former governor Romeu Zema. I apologize for the error. And I reiterate what is right.”
In the interview, Gilmar criticized the one published by Zema on social media in . The videos show magistrates portrayed by dolls made by AI (artificial intelligence).
“If we start making jokes about serious things, about institutions, imagine that we start making dolls of Zema as a homosexual. Isn’t that offensive? Is it right to joke about that?”, asked the minister.
Zema said on Thursday (April 23) that Gilmar showed Brazil his “purest prejudice.” On (former Twitter), the pre-candidate stated that “It only offends when it has a basis of truth” and said he was with “clear conscience”.
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📹 Zema says that Gilmar compares homosexuals to thief
🗣️ The pre-candidate for the Presidency, Romeu Zema () (Novo-MG), countered this Thursday (April 23, 2026) statements made by Minister Gilmar Mendes (), of the STF (Supreme Federal Court). In publication on X…
— Poder360 (@Poder360)
Zema also reacted with a laughing emoji to an AI-created image that showed him holding an LGBTQIA+ community flag with the phrase “Zema with pride”.
The interaction took place after the federal deputy (PL-MG) questioned whether Gilmar Mendes’ speech had homophobic overtones.
UNDERSTAND THE CASE
Tension escalated after Gilmar Mendes asked STF minister Alexandre de Moraes to take part in the investigation into fake news. The request is based on one of the videos in the series “The Untouchables”in which puppets satirize Gilmar and the court minister Dias Toffoli.
In the play, Toffoli’s puppet asks for the suspension of the breach of his confidentiality, determined by the CPI (Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry) into Organized Crime. In exchange, Gilmar’s puppet asks for a stay at a resort linked to Toffoli’s family. Moraes sent the case to the PGR (Attorney General’s Office), which analyzes the procedure under secrecy.
To the MetropolisesGilmar declared that he had not “dispute” with the former governor and classified the dialogue with him as a “waste of time”. The Supreme Court minister highlighted that the rule of law will respond whenever there are offenses that deserve judicial criticism.
Watch (1min26s):
