Brazilian Actor Receives Death Threats for Gay Kissing Scene in Soap Opera

Ramiro and Kelvin have finally kissed!

Kissing scenes between same-sex characters are still extremely rare for soap operas that air on broadcast networks in Latin America. This is even rarer for Brazilian soap operas that air during primetime on Globo, the largest commercial TV network in all of Latin America.

While films and TV shows from cable networks and streaming services can take more liberties with their content, free-to-air broadcast networks in Latin America still try to appeal to the largest possible group of people, which ends up limiting LGBTQ+ characters and storylines in response to conservative viewers.

Somehow, though, viewers of Globo’s current primetime soap opera, Terra e Paixão, fell in love with two LGBTQ+ characters who have maintained a flirtatious and romantic dynamic between them. One of them is Ramiro, a closeted, queer, “brute” cowboy played by actor Amaury Lorenzo. The other character is Kelvin (played by Diego Martins), an effeminate – and sometimes gender-bending – queer guy who feels stuck in the countryside of Brazil.

For context, both actors have come out as being a part of the LGBTQ+ community, making this on-screen representation even more powerful and compelling.

On Monday, Dec. 11, Globo’s “Best of the Year Awards” results were leaked, revealing that Lorenzo had won the award for Breakout Actor of the Year. Then, on Tuesday, Dec. 12, Globo aired the first kissing scene between Ramiro and Kelvin on Terra e Paixão.

While same-sex kisses have happened in past Brazilian telenovelas, the general public has never expressed this much support for queer characters like Ramiro and Kelvin, making their kissing scene much more powerful than the (very few) other ones that came before it. In fact, ratings for this episode of Terra e Paixão have already broken records for Globo.

Unfortunately, homophobic and racist conservatives always find a way to ruin things. Following the leaked information that Lorenzo won an award and the anticipation of his gay kissing scene on Terra e Paixão, Lorenzo took to social media to expose the despicable comments and death threats that he’s been receiving.

Lorenzo wrote via Instagram stories:

“I’ve received death threats over the course of the night, besides offenses regarding who I am and what my job is. Everything is in the hands of Justice. All of this... because of an award. Last night, this morning, and this afternoon were all difficult. Hell-ish. That’s why I’ve been absent from social media. However, as an artist, I emanate love. And people who follow me also emanate love. Not death.”

He continued:

“But for Amaury the child, who, at nine years old, was shot on his back because he took ballet classes… For Amaury the artist, who had to choose between having food or having a residence, or neither of them… For Amaury the Black man, who continues to be made invisible and constantly hears that he isn’t Black… For Amaury the LGBTQ+ man, who has witnessed death standing right in front of him for the simple fact of being who he is… For all of this, for Amaury, a death threat no longer has that strength.”

“Even after adding up my trajectory of working for 25 years, I’m still enlightened by human beings who save my life every single day. I love you all. And I came back here because of you all. What we’re building here is filled with love, and I can’t let go of holding your hands.”

“Tonight, we’re making HISTORY on primetime television. Let’s focus on the love and the reception of this scene that we’ve all been waiting for. That’s what matters. The love. Nothing else matters besides love. Diego [Martins] and I have been fighting for this [scene] for months, restlessly. So it’s time to focus on love.”

“And when someone wishes death upon you, wish back even more love to that person. Love can save lives. Thank you for saving me with so much love. Now, let me go cry a little bit over here. Love you all.”