Mamonas Assassinas was “very censored” in its time, says Rick Bonadio

One of the great phenomena of Brazilian music in the 1990s, the killer castor beans emerged in a period where artists, especially rock artists, were still “testing” the limits of post-military dictatorship society. Many of the group’s songs would not even be released in previous decades, where censorship established which songs the population could or could not listen to. However, in 1995, the only album by the group from São Paulo reached the public without any restriction.

Still, according to the producer Rick Bonadio (via Whiplash), the Mamonas suffered what he classified as “censorship” in the short period in which the musicians, who died in a tragic plane crash in 1996, were active. The subject was addressed by the studio professional in a publication on Twitter about a topic that has nothing to do with music: the decision of the Court of Justice of São Paulo (TJ-SP) to remove the comedy special from YouTube disturbingfrom the comedian Leo Linsdue to jokes about slavery, religion and minorities.

Another comedian, Fabio Porchat, had taken a position contrary to the court order by defining it as “unacceptable” and “shame”. In a second publication, on Twitter, he explained: “Ah, but it makes fun of minorities… And what is the legal problem? None. Within the law, you can make fun of everything everything everything. Not liking a joke doesn’t give you the right to stop it from existing. Even more previously. Preventing the comedian from thinking a joke is madness. Even if you don’t like this comedian, even if you despise everything he says, he has a right to say it. He has the right to offend. There is no censorship of good”.

It’s a disgrace here! Unacceptable! https://t.co/UORUkpro2b

— Fabio Porchat (@FabioPorchat) May 16, 2023

Don’t like a joke? Don’t consume this joke. If the joke has not incited hatred and violence, it is just a joke. There are all kinds of jokes, farts and puns, acidic and silly. Is there a bad joke? Also has. Is there an aggressive joke? Oops. But then just don’t watch. Who was…

— Fabio Porchat (@FabioPorchat) May 17, 2023

Faced with the repercussions, Porchat declared that he has “talked and exchanged with a lot of nice people” about the subject, resulting in “a lot of learning”. That’s when Rick Bonadio entered the conversation, in support of Fábio. The music producer declared that he had experienced censorship while working with Mamonas Assassinas, without specifying exactly what happened to the band.

“Friend, we can all talk endlessly about this, but either you support the censorship or you support the joke. In music it’s the same thing. I speak from experience. At the time of Mamonas we were very censored and today we see that they were a good joke band and nice people. It cannot castrate humor, nor impose limits. That’s the essence of any joke, and music too. Hug”

Buddy, we can all talk endlessly about this, but either you support the censorship or you support the joke. In music it’s the same thing. I speak from experience. At the time of Mamonas we were very censored and today we see that they were a good joke band and nice people. Can’t… https://t.co/32nEaPZUmj

— Rick Bonadio (@rickbonadio) May 19, 2023

Reactions in the comments section

In the area where internet users express themselves about the publication, reactions were divided between support and, in the majority, opposition to Rick Bonadio’s speech. There were even those who considered that the Mamonas Assassinas would also be the target of censorship these days.

“I keep imagining Mamonas, the masters of debauchery nowadays. One attack per second”, said an internet user. “Rick deserves a gold record for his response to censorship. Here goes Rick!” said another.

In the opposition camp, the main argument is that the Mamonas were never, in fact, censored. Users of the social network recalled that the band’s songs were frequently aired on radio and TV stations, including programs for all ages.

“Censored? Don’t be a hypocrite! Mamonas was on at 12pm on ‘Domingo Legal’ and all the children were watching. At the time, my 10-year-old sister was a huge fan with her friends,” declared a follower. “When was the censorship? In my memory, castor beans played on all radio stations, spent hours on all TV stations, performed in any location”, said another. “I think you are confusing committing a crime with making a joke, and then you end up confusing being prosecuted for committing a crime with being censored”, commented a third.