Actor Wagner Moura has filed a criminal complaint against pastor Silas Malafaia for alleged crimes of slander and defamation. The lawsuit has already been accepted by the court and questions posts made by the religious leader on social media platform X in January of this year.
According to court documents, the artist's defense argues that Malafaia exceeded the limits of freedom of expression by using terms considered offensive to refer to the actor. Among the expressions cited are "cretin" and "fake leftist."
Publications prompted legal action.
In messages posted on his X account, Silas Malafaia criticized Wagner Moura when commenting on topics related to politics and cultural funding. In one of the posts, the pastor stated that the actor was a "cretinous artist" and associated his political positions with public spending allocated to the cultural sector.
In another post, Malafaia again attacked the artist and also criticized supporters who came to the actor's defense. These statements became part of the legal basis for the lawsuit filed in court.
Wagner Moura's defense argues that the statements were intended to damage his reputation and honor in the eyes of the public.
Defense points to history of legal disputes
In the lawsuit, the actor's lawyers emphasize that Malafaia has already faced other legal disputes involving public statements. The document cites, among other cases, a conviction to compensate influencer Felipe Neto and lawsuits related to offenses directed at members of the Armed Forces.
According to the argument presented, the episodes demonstrate a pattern of behavior marked by personal attacks that go beyond the limits of legitimate public debate.
The defense is seeking recognition of the crimes of slander and defamation based on statements made by the pastor on social media.
Malafaia reacts and denies accusations.
When contacted for comment, Silas Malafaia called the lawsuit a "joke" and stated that he had not committed any crime. The pastor also declared that he considered the lawsuit a demonstration of intolerance.
In addition to denying the accusations, the religious leader questioned why he was chosen as the target of the legal action among thousands of users who commented on Wagner Moura's performance after the 2026 Oscar ceremony.
"There are thousands of memes against him, some even with swear words. Why did he choose me?" Malafaia declared.
The 2026 Oscars gained wider attention on social media.
The controversy gained even more visibility after Wagner Moura's participation in the 2026 Oscars. The actor became the first Brazilian nominated in the Best Actor category for his performance in the film "The Secret Agent".
Despite expectations, the production was nominated in four categories but did not win any awards. The result generated widespread repercussions on social media, with expressions of support and criticism for the artist.
Now, the dispute between Wagner Moura and Silas Malafaia moves to the judicial sphere, where the arguments presented by both parties will be analyzed.
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