Former governor says that talking about the minister only offends if it has “a grain of truth”; Gilmar suggested that it would be offensive to portray Zema as a homosexual
The former governor of Minas Gerais and pre-candidate for the Presidency, (Novo-MG), said this Thursday (April 23, 2026) that Minister Gilmar Mendes, of the Federal Supreme Court, showed Brazil his “purest prejudice”. In an interview with the portal MetropolisesGilmar questioned whether it would be offensive to portray Zema as a homosexual doll.
“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.
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).
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”.
📹 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-generated 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 Minister Alexandre de Moraes to investigate the fake news. The request is based on a video from the series “Os Intocáveis”, published by Zema, in which puppets satirize Gilmar Mendes and 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.
Watch (1min26s):
To the MetropolisesGilmar Mendes stated that he did not have “dispute” with the former governor and classified the dialogue with him as a “waste of time”. The minister highlighted that the rule of law will respond whenever there are offenses that deserve judicial criticism.
