On April 15, 2025, Juliana Oliveira, the former assistant of the popular Brazilian late-night show The Noite, publicly detailed her allegations of sexual assault against presenter Otávio Mesquita. In a video shared on Instagram, Oliveira recounted the traumatic incident that occurred during a 2016 recording of the show, where she claims Mesquita behaved inappropriately, touching her in ways that she described as both unwanted and violent.
Oliveira's account comes after a long period of silence, during which she stated she was focusing on her mental health. "I didn’t speak out before because I was taking care of my mental health. I was heavily discredited and attacked online," she explained in her video. The former assistant described how Mesquita allegedly put his hands on her buttocks and chest during a segment that had been rehearsed with the intention of being comedic.
The incident, which Oliveira claims was not consensual, involved a planned stunt where Mesquita was supposed to enter upside down, and she was to assist in turning him back over. However, she stated that once the cameras were rolling, everything changed. "He didn’t stop. He grabbed me forcefully. That was violence," she said, emphasizing her discomfort and the lack of consent in the situation.
Following the incident, Oliveira revealed that she had voiced her concerns to Danilo Gentili, the show's host, and the production team. Instead of addressing her complaints, they reportedly chose to hide her in the bathroom whenever Mesquita was present in the studio. "Many times, this guy invaded the program, and what did the production do? They locked me in the bathroom until he left... I was locked in the bathroom as if I was the one at fault," she recounted, expressing her frustration at the handling of the situation.
Oliveira's decision to come forward stems from years of feeling ignored and unsupported by the management at SBT, the network airing The Noite. She stated that despite being under the leadership of women, her complaints went unheard for a decade. "I had fear of reporting this guy and losing my job. I was dealing with powerful people, and I knew that. My panic was that he would say I wanted his money, or that he would claim he would never do such a thing in front of his wife and child in the audience," she explained.
In her video, Oliveira also addressed the backlash she has received since making her allegations public. Critics have pointed to past footage of her appearing enthusiastic with guests on the show, questioning her credibility. She responded to these criticisms by clarifying that her behavior was scripted and that the incident with Mesquita was far beyond what was agreed upon. "What was planned was that he would enter upside down, and I would help Danilo turn him over. We rehearsed, everything was fine. But when it was time to go live, he came at me with both hands on my body," she said.
After leaving The Noite in 2024, Oliveira took her complaints to the SBT management. She described a series of meetings with the network’s compliance team, where she was asked to remain silent about her allegations while they investigated. However, she claims that her career began to decline after she reported the incident. "In February, they called me in and said, 'You are dismissed.' I asked, 'But did you resolve the complaint?' They told me that one thing had nothing to do with the other," she lamented.
In response to Oliveira’s allegations, Otávio Mesquita has publicly denied any wrongdoing. He characterized the accusations as absurd and suggested that Oliveira’s timing was suspicious, claiming she only made the allegations after being dismissed from her position. "I feel sorry for her. I will defend myself, I didn’t want to, but I have to defend myself," he stated in an interview with the Brazilian media.
The gravity of Oliveira's claims and the subsequent reactions highlight the ongoing struggle many face when speaking out against abuse and harassment in the entertainment industry. The situation has sparked discussions about accountability and the treatment of women in workplaces, particularly in high-pressure environments like television.
As the story continues to unfold, it raises important questions about the responsibilities of networks and producers to protect their employees and take allegations seriously. Oliveira's experience serves as a reminder of the need for systemic changes to ensure that all individuals feel safe and supported in their work environments.
