In a significant public address, Brazilian television host Danilo Gentili spoke out regarding the serious allegations of rape made by former assistant Juliana Oliveira against fellow presenter Otávio Mesquita. This statement came via a 46-minute video posted on social media on the evening of April 16, 2025, where Gentili aimed to clarify his perspective on the events that transpired during a 2016 recording of his show, "The Noite."
Gentili asserted that his intention was to defend his name after Juliana cited him in her accusations, which he described as completely false. He emphasized that he had initially refrained from commenting on the matter because he believed it was a private issue between Juliana and Mesquita. However, he felt compelled to speak out due to the seriousness of the claims made against him.
"I personally wasn’t going to speak out... it’s a matter between Juliana and Otávio Mesquita. But Juliana mentioned my name and made an accusation that is completely untrue," Gentili stated. He explained that the incident, which he interpreted as a humorous misunderstanding at the time, was not perceived by him as an act of abuse. "In my view, what I saw was a joke. From my angle, it was just Otávio being Otávio," he added.
In the video, Gentili recounted that he had not noticed any inappropriate behavior during the recording. He recalled that both Juliana and Otávio had a playful rapport, which led him to believe that their interactions were consensual. "I thought they had freedom between them. I didn’t think it was anything serious. If I had understood anything different, I would have stopped the program right away and wouldn’t have let it air," he explained.
Gentili also addressed the timeline of events, revealing that Juliana only classified the incident as a crime years later, after the public outcry following another high-profile case involving Dani Calabresa and Marcius Melhem. He presented audio excerpts and messages exchanged with Juliana, which he claimed illustrated her change of perspective regarding the incident. "It was only on that day that Juliana contacted me on WhatsApp and gave weight to the idea that it was a sexual crime. I never had this information before," he stated.
Furthermore, Gentili defended himself against the accusation that he had omitted action due to Juliana's socio-economic status, stating, "Today, when Juliana appears saying I did nothing because she isn’t rich and white, I feel entitled to defend myself against that." He emphasized that he had suggested reporting the incident to the police and the compliance department at SBT, but Juliana declined, stating, "I don’t want anything from him, I just want him not to come here anymore." Gentili claimed he had taken it upon himself to prohibit Mesquita from appearing on the show again.
On the other hand, Juliana Oliveira provided her account of the incident on April 15, 2025, detailing her experience during the recording. She accused Mesquita of grabbing her forcefully and described the encounter as a violation. "I was quite attacked and discredited here on the internet," she remarked. Juliana recounted that the situation escalated to the point where she had to complain to both Gentili and the production team about Mesquita’s behavior, which she characterized as inappropriate. She asserted that her previous complaints led to Mesquita being barred from further appearances on the show.
"When The Noite was recording and he was at SBT, he would invade the program, and the production would hide me in the bathroom. I was locked in the bathroom until he left. This didn’t happen just 10 times; it happened much more. Otávio Mesquita invaded The Noite, and I was locked up as if I were the criminal," Juliana claimed.
Gentili’s video response aimed not only to clarify his position but also to address what he perceived as unfair accusations from Juliana. He expressed frustration over her portrayal of him in the media, stating, "She went to the media to defame me, making it seem like I was negligent. I prohibited Otávio from entering the program. I never exposed Juliana to him, to avoid any discomfort. I took responsibility. And now I hear that I needed to be white and rich to defend her? How is that?"
As the conversation around the incident continues to evolve, both Gentili and Oliveira's statements reflect the complex dynamics of power, support, and accountability in the entertainment industry. The allegations have sparked a broader discussion about workplace conduct, consent, and the responsibilities of those in positions of authority.
In closing, Gentili emphasized that he intended this video to be his only public statement on the matter, saying, "If I’m ever asked about this in a podcast, I’ll just say: I recorded a video with everything on my Instagram. Go watch it."
