Português
Former Globo journalist Luis Erlanger made harsh criticisms of Silvio Santos, who passed away last Saturday (17th) after health complications. In a social media post, Erlanger recalled controversial episodes involving the iconic founder of SBT, including his support for the Military Dictatorship (1964-1985). According to the ex-reporter, Silvio was "only a saint by name."
"In Brazil, it seems that death brings automatic amnesty, along with a flood of praise. There's no denying that Silvio Santos is a legend in Brazilian television. In his style, he was the greatest presenter of variety shows. But the Baú da Felicidade, which he received as a gift, was a real scam. And the Tele Sena, a disguised bet marketed as a capitalization bond without backing," Erlanger began.
"He only didn't run for president because he was deemed ineligible. He always supported all presidents, calling himself the 'government's luxury office boy.' And by government, I mean any government. Like other media tycoons, such as Roberto Marinho, he supported the military coup. But he went further, admitting that he received his TV channel from the hands of dictator-general Figueiredo. During breaks, he aired campaigns with the military regime's slogan: 'Brazil, love it or leave it.' During Bolsonaro's administration, he revived 'The President's Week,' which was aired during the dictatorship," the journalist wrote.
"He took a music award away from a black contestant, disregarding the audience's choice. He shamelessly copied the original Big Brother format and turned it into Casa dos Artistas. Does anyone remember the cowardice against Zé Celso and Teatro Oficina? In the end, Silvio Santos is, indeed, an icon of Brazilian TV. But a saint? Only by name," he concluded.
In the comments on the post, the reaction was immediate. Internet users criticized Erlanger for his attitude. "How disrespectful. Regardless of opinion, using the day of someone's death, who was so beloved by many, to say this is, at the very least, a lack of character. Ignoring the family's pain just to make a statement is lamentable," one user shot back.
