During A Fazenda 12’s Festa Arco-Íris in September 2020, MC Mirella and Stéfani Bays reportedly shared a brief kiss that was left out of the next day’s highlights. Viewers accused broadcaster Record of homophobic censorship, pointing to heterosexual kisses that did air. Record did not explain the specific omission when asked at the time, so the edit’s reason remains unconfirmed.
What happened at the Festa Arco-Íris
MC Mirella and Stéfani Bays, contestants on Brazil’s reality show A Fazenda 12, reportedly exchanged a brief selinho—a quick, closed-mouth kiss—during the Festa Arco-Íris, which began Friday night, September 18, 2020. NaTelinha also reported that the pair kissed again on a bed in the house. The September 19 highlights broadcast did not include the reported kisses. NaTelinha and Notícias da TV both covered the omission and the audience reaction on September 20.
The same NaTelinha account said the party also included a quick kiss between contestants Lucas Strabko, known as Cartolouco, and Biel, which was likewise omitted. By contrast, the broadcast showed kisses between Jakelyne Oliveira and Mariano, and between Biel and Tays Reis. Those contrasts formed the basis of viewers’ criticism.
Why viewers called it censorship
Viewers objected on social media, including with the phrase “Record Homofóbica.” They argued that leaving out same-sex affection while airing heterosexual kisses reflected unequal treatment. That was a documented audience accusation and comparison; it does not by itself establish why editors made the choice.
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Contemporary coverage reported that Record was asked about the omitted kisses but did not comment on the specific reason. No attributable statistic establishes the reach of the backlash, so the reaction is best described without assigning it a numerical scale.
What Mirella and the director later said
Mirella’s retrospective view
In a December 2020 interview reported by UOL, Mirella agreed that Record had censored the pair’s affection, while joking that they had not really kissed and that Stéfani was “running away” from her. UOL reported that Record declined to comment when asked. Mirella’s view is relevant testimony, but it does not supply an explanation from the broadcaster. UOL TV e Famosos published the account on December 2, 2020.
Carelli’s general comments about live-feed cuts
In a September 20, 2024 interview with Terra, A Fazenda director Rodrigo Carelli described several general reasons a live feed might cut away abruptly: cameras may not be programmed to stay in a particular room, rooms may be undergoing maintenance, or staff may cut a feed during a serious fight while assessing whether an expulsion is necessary. He said, “Muitas vezes, na verdade, a câmera não está programada para ficar ali [naquele cômodo], naquele momento” (“Often, in fact, the camera isn’t programmed to stay there [in that room] at that moment).” Terra’s interview report concerns live-feed cuts generally; it does not identify the reason for the September 2020 highlights edit.
Quick Recap
What is established—and what is not
- Contemporary reports said Mirella and Stéfani shared a brief kiss during the September 18–19, 2020 party, and that the September 19 edit omitted it.
- Viewers alleged homophobic censorship, comparing the omitted same-sex affection with heterosexual kisses that appeared in the broadcast.
- Record did not give reporters a reason for this specific omission at the time.
- Carelli later described operational reasons for some live-feed cuts, but did not connect those reasons to this edit.
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