During a televised mayoral debate in São Paulo, a violent incident occurred when candidate and TV host, José Luiz Datena, attacked his opponent, Pablo Marçal, with an iron chair.
The altercation happened following a contentious discussion about sexual harassment allegations against Datena, which had been previously dismissed by prosecutors.
Video footage shows Datena hurling the chair at Marçal, who managed to partially block the impact but was still hospitalized with suspected rib fractures and breathing issues.
Marçal, a far-right digital influencer, had provoked Datena by accusing him of avoiding confrontation in an earlier debate, taunting him as “not man enough.”
The debate, organized by TV Cultura, was temporarily halted as Marçal was taken to the hospital and Datena was expelled from the studio.
Datena, known for his crime show, later admitted that stress related to his mother-in-law’s recent death had overwhelmed him.
“I lost control… I acknowledge my mistake, but what can I do?” he said while leaving the studio.
Marçal’s legal team has filed a police report, and an investigation is underway.
Despite the incident, the debate continued with the remaining candidates.
Marçal’s advisors condemned the attack as “cowardly” and called for appropriate legal action.
They also requested public prayers for Marçal’s recovery. The São Paulo mayoral election is scheduled for October 6th, casting uncertainty on the political futures of both candidates.
