Edir Macedo and Record Ordered to Pay R$ 1.5 Million for Homophobic Remarks
The TRF4 ruling increases damages and underscores the responsibility of religious leaders and broadcasters
On Tuesday, September 15, the Federal Regional Court of the 4th Region (TRF4) increased the damages that Edir Macedo and TV Record must pay for collective moral damages to R$ 1.5 million. The ruling follows the review of appeals filed by the parties and upholds the conviction previously handed down by the 10th Federal Court of Porto Alegre in November 2024.
Edir Macedo and the homophobic remarks
During the Christmas special broadcast on December 24, 2022, Macedo stated: "You were not born bad. Nobody is born bad. Nobody is born a thief, nobody is born a criminal, nobody is born homosexual, lesbian… nobody is born bad." The statement was deemed homophobic for associating sexual orientation with "evil," "thief," and "criminal."
Record's liability
TV Record, a network affiliated with the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, was ordered to pay R$ 500,000, while Macedo's damages were raised from R$ 500,000 to R$ 1 million. The court emphasized that live broadcasting does not exempt the network from liability, as the content reached a nationwide audience.
Lawsuit and appeals
The lawsuit, brought by Nuances, Aliança Nacional LGBTI+, ABRAFH, and the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office, was filed on December 26, 2022, two days after the program aired. The TRF4 decision may be challenged through appeals to the Supreme Federal Court (STF) and the Superior Court of Justice (STJ).
Amounts and allocation of damages
The R$ 1.5 million will be allocated to the Fund for the Defense of Diffuse Rights. The plaintiffs initially sought R$ 10 million, but the court reduced the amount.
Reactions of the parties involved
Macedo's defense argued that the remarks were part of a sermon about welcoming marginalized individuals, while Record claimed it could not be held responsible for live-broadcast content. Both defenses appealed the ruling, seeking dismissal of the case.
Impact on the legal landscape
The ruling highlights the limits of free speech when it comes to discourse that incites intolerance against the LGBTQIA+ community. The Federal Justice system reaffirmed that the speech exceeded the boundaries of freedom of expression and constituted an incitement to intolerance.
With reporting from Folha de S.Paulo, CartaCapital, and Estado de Minas.
Source: Folha de S.Paulo, CartaCapital, Estado de Minas