FLAMENGUIST MARCIUS MELHEM IS DENIED BY THE UNIVERSITY WHICH ACCUSED HIM OF MISOGYNY

The Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) carried out research showing that comedian Marcius Melhem created a misogynistic network to attack women who reported him for sexual harassment. The Flamengo fan had said this Monday (09) that the study was not from the institution, which was denied.

This Tuesday (10), UFRJ released a note explaining that the study has no connection with the rectory, but “it is, in fact, the product of one of the 1,456 research laboratories of our century-old University”. See the note in full, on the University website, through this link .

“The Rectory of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro informs that, unlike what was disclosed by Marcius Melhem, former director of TV Globo, the Rectory did not state that the research Multiplatform Orchestration of Misogyny: The Marcius Melhem Case, produced by the Internet and Social Media Studies Laboratory (NetLab), of the School of Communication (ECO), has no link with UFRJ. Even though it informed in and -mail that the research has no relationship with the Rectory, it is, rather, the product of one of the 1,456 research laboratories of our century-old University”, stated the Rectory.

“The research carried out by NetLab is a study case, part of the Gender Disinformation and Hate Speech line of research. Along these lines, the laboratory investigates different communication campaigns that attack, defame, violate and devalue women and their rights through digital platforms. (…) NetLab researches topics that have gained prominence in the media and on the public agenda. We emphasize that the aforementioned laboratory is recognized for its excellence and contribution”, said the text.

This all started due to more accusations that were raised in the name of the former director of Globo. Melhem had been accused of harassment by several women. He then created a YouTube channel where he justified himself and said that they were liars, under the pretext of defending himself. The platform and its content were seen as misogynistic, as they attacked whistleblowers.

The study conducted by the University proves this orchestrated behavior in an attempt to demoralize the complainants and even harm advertising campaigns with one of their accusers.

Melhem also tried to say that the research was a lie. He recorded, yesterday afternoon (09), a video showing an email from the UFRJ press office, saying that the document is not from the rectory. His followers, therefore, began to disseminate that it was nothing more than 'fake news', which the University denied.