Influencers found themselves accused of racial slurs after giving bananas and stuffed monkeys to black children

The Court of Justice of Rio de Janeiro (TJRJ) has accepted the complaint of the Public Prosecutor of Rio de Janeiro (MPRJ) against digital influencers Kerollen Cunha AND Nancy Gonçalvesmother and daughter, and made them defendants racial insult. They shared videos on TikTok delivering a banana, a stuffed monkey and even money to black children who were on the streets. According to G1In November, the Racial Crimes and Intolerance Police Station (Decradi) charged both men with racism.

OR Estadao attempted to contact the Society of Criminal Lawyers of the State of Rio de Janeiro (SARCRJ), which defends defendants, for an assignment, but had not received a response at the time of this publication. The space remains open.

Even the relationship had access to the declaration, signed by judge Simone de Faria Ferraz, of the 1st Criminal Court of the District of São Gonçalo, which makes mother and daughter defendants. Judge says children have been “attacked to their human dignity, because of the color of their skin” with alleged racist practices. “Such attitudes, in themselves, would already represent a serious offense to the constitutional rights of the minors involved”, states the judge.

The judge also highlights that, in addition to using objects with a possible racist character, the acts were filmed and published on the internet without the authorization of those responsible. Simone also understood that the defendants sought “personal and social advancement” with the filmed actions.

“The fact that the Internet is an environment that offers no control over exposure and transmission and that affects or could affect the entire world population is extremely serious,” he adds in the statement.

OR Estadao He tried to contact the legal team defending the defendants, with no response. The article will be updated when we receive feedback.

Understand the case

The Police Headquarters for Racial Crimes and Intolerance Crimes (Decradi) has opened an investigation to investigate the episode in which digital influencers Kerollen Cunha AND Nancy Gonçalvesmother and daughter respectively, who shared videos on their TikTok profile in which they appear delivering a banana, a stuffed monkey and even money to black children who were on the streets.

According to the lawyer Feud Belospecialist in anti-discrimination law, the episode is characterized by the presentation of “recreational racism”, which consists in someone’s use of “discrimination against blacks for the purpose of entertainment”.

“Can you measure the level of monstrosity that these two ‘disinfectors’ had by giving a monkey and a banana to two children and continuing to post on social media to their more than 13 million followers? To ridicule two black children, to incite this perverse discrimination that takes away our status as a person and animalizes us as if it were a joke”, says Fayda in a video shared on her networks.

Decradi will open an investigation into the incident and will investigate whether Kerollen and Nancy committed a crime of racism or racial insult. It will also be investigated whether both have violated any offense under the Statute on Children and Adolescents (ECA).

The influencers have more than 1 million followers on Instagram and 13 million on TikTok. Both live in Rio de Janeiro. Kerollen, who is Nancy’s mother, was the one who posted the videos.

The original videos have been deleted from Kerollen’s profile, but continue to circulate on social media. You can see the moment when the influencer approaches a black boy and gives him a gift. When the child opens the package, he comes across a banana and is unhappy, the influencer even asks him if he didn’t like her. In another video, Kerollen approaches a black girl and asks her if she wants R$2 or the gift bag. The child chooses the gift and when he opens it he finds a stuffed monkey.

“Influencers” Karollen and Nancy thought it would be fun to seek out black children and offer bananas and monkeys as gifts to get views.

We could write many things, but Dr. @faydabelo I have already said what is necessary.

We blur children’s faces to preserve their images. pic.twitter.com/wJTCgYflFg

— Africanizzazione (@africanizzazione_) May 30, 2023

The influencers shared a press release on their social networks. “The legal advisor emphasizes that the influencers are appalled by the allegations made and vehemently repudiates any form of racial discrimination. They also strengthen their commitment to promoting inclusion, diversity and equality on their platforms,” reads an excerpt .

“It is essential that we analyze the facts fairly and impartially before drawing any conclusions. The posts in question were taken out of context and interpreted in a distorted manner. The influencers did not intend to promote racism or offend any individual or ethnic group.” ,” she continued.

“In light of these points, we ask that justice be done and that all parties involved have the opportunity to present their arguments fairly,” the final section reads.

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A post shared by Kerollen and Nancy (@kerollenancy_)

*Collaboration: Tamyres Sbrile

Source: Terra