The Brazil Carnival is a globally renowned festival that takes place every year in Brazil, usually in February or early March. It is a vibrant and colorful celebration of Brazilian culture and identity, characterized by lively music, dancing, parades, and general merrymaking.
After two years of being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s Carnival was held from February 15 to 25, 2023, in Rio de Janeiro.
However, controversy arose shortly after the festivities, as photos circulated on social media showing a staging of two people playing the roles of the devil and Christ.
One individual was seen dragging the other by the wrist, prompting criticism and outrage from some members of the Catholic community.
Flood hits Brazil
Tragically, the Carnival was followed by devastating floods that swept through the city, killing several people. The heavy rains and floods in São Paulo state, which occurred on February 25, 2023, claimed the lives of at least 36 people.
The city of São Sebastião was among the hardest hit, with dozens of people still missing after at least 50 houses collapsed.
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In the previous edition of the Carnival, the World Christian League, a Catholic organization, accused one of the participating schools of blasphemy and vilifying the image of Jesus, demanding compensation of R$ 5 million.
However, on June 29, 2022, the São Paulo court ruled in favor of the school, stating that they had not committed any abuse of freedom of expression in their choreography.
The decision was made in the first and second instance, although the opposing party still had the option to appeal.