On Tuesday, April 15, 2025, Juliana Oliveira, a former stage assistant for the Brazilian talk show The Noite, publicly accused presenter Otávio Mesquita of rape during a recording in 2016. In a heartfelt video shared on social media, Juliana detailed the traumatic experience that has haunted her for years and criticized the lack of support from both the show’s production team and the broadcaster, SBT.
Juliana's revelation comes after she was dismissed from SBT in February 2025, a move that many believe was related to her internal complaints about the incident. In her video, she explained that her delayed response was due to her struggle with mental health, stating, "I delayed speaking out because I was taking care of my head." This admission highlights the emotional toll that the incident has taken on her life.
According to Juliana, the incident occurred during a scripted segment of the show, where Mesquita was to descend upside down from the ceiling while she assisted him. However, she alleges that the situation escalated quickly beyond the agreed-upon actions. "The guy already arrived with both hands on my butt, on my chest. I pushed him away, but he wouldn't stop. He grabbed me forcefully. That was violence," she recounted, visibly shaken.
She emphasized that there was no consent for what transpired. "My discomfort in the video is clear. That wasn't consented to," she stated, reinforcing her claim of violation. Juliana also expressed her frustration with how the situation was handled by SBT, claiming that instead of addressing her complaint, the production team chose to isolate her. "They hid me in the bathroom whenever Otávio appeared in the studio," she said. "I was locked in the bathroom as if I was the one who was wrong, as if I was the criminal."
This treatment left Juliana feeling victimized not only by Mesquita’s actions but also by the response of her colleagues. She revealed that she had sought support from Danilo Gentili, the show’s host, and the production team but was met with inadequate responses. "The solution they found was to hide me in the bathroom," she lamented, showcasing a culture of silence and shame that often surrounds such allegations.
Juliana also mentioned that her fears of retaliation from SBT and Mesquita, who she regarded as a powerful figure within the network, contributed to her initial hesitance to speak out. "I was afraid to report this guy and lose my job. I was messing with big people," she explained, illustrating the precarious position many women find themselves in when confronting powerful figures in the entertainment industry.
In 2020, Juliana found a renewed sense of courage after witnessing the public support for fellow comedian Dani Calabresa, who had accused Marcius Melhem of sexual harassment. This prompted her to reach out to Gentili and the show's management again, seeking to have her case formally addressed. However, she was told to maintain silence while the matter was investigated.
Despite her attempts to seek justice internally, Juliana’s situation worsened when she was eventually dismissed from the network. "I made a complaint to a company run by women and they didn't even listen to me," she said, expressing her disillusionment with SBT’s handling of her case. "SBT didn't do a damn thing," she asserted, leading her to take legal action against the broadcaster for material and moral damages.
Juliana’s allegations have prompted an investigation by the civil police, as the case was formally reported to the Public Ministry of São Paulo earlier this year. The incident, which occurred during a live broadcast on April 25, 2016, involved Mesquita simulating sexual acts without Juliana's consent, a claim he has vehemently denied. He characterized the encounter as a pre-arranged joke and suggested that Juliana's allegations were a consequence of her recent dismissal.
In a response to the allegations, Mesquita stated, "I will take the measures here to defend my honor and also my family, because, after all, my ex-wife at the time was in the audience with my son. How was I going to do something stupid like that?" He expressed disbelief at the timing of the accusations, suggesting they arose from her dissatisfaction following her termination from SBT.
As the public discourse surrounding this case continues to unfold, many are rallying behind Juliana, applauding her courage to speak out about her experiences. Her story reflects a broader issue within the entertainment industry, where allegations of misconduct are often met with silence and dismissal, leaving victims feeling unsupported and unheard.
In the wake of her revelations, Juliana has expressed that her goal is not fame or financial gain but rather justice for herself and others who may have suffered in silence. Her determination to seek accountability from the institutions that failed her resonates with many, as it sheds light on the systemic issues of harassment and abuse in the workplace.
As the investigation progresses, the spotlight remains on both Juliana's courageous stand against her alleged abuser and the responsibilities of media organizations to protect their employees and address grievances seriously.
