A Brazilian singer and social media influencer is facing widespread backlash after he was filmed dancing behind a TV reporter at the scene of a deadly bus crash.
MC Livinho, a popular funk artist with more than 13 million followers on Instagram, interrupted the live news broadcast while journalist Isabela Campos was reporting on the terrible accident.
Despite clear gestures from people behind the camera for him to stop, Livinho continued dancing behind the reporter, seemingly oblivious to the tragedy that had unfolded.
The accident, which occurred on Saturday in Pirai, a region south of Rio de Janeiro, claimed the lives of three athletes from the Curitiba Crocodiles, an American football team that plays in a Brazilian league.
The bus, which was carrying 43 passengers and two drivers, overturned while descending a dangerous stretch of the Via Dutra highway.
Shocking images published by Brazilian media showed the bus overturned on its side with several panels torn open.
MC Livinho invades live report on road tragedy in Piraí, south of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, September 21, 2024
The accident, which occurred on Saturday in Pirai, a region south of Rio de Janeiro, claimed the lives of three athletes from the Curitiba Crocodiles, an American football team that plays in a Brazilian league.
MC Livinho’s behaviour at the scene of the accident has sparked outrage across Brazil, with thousands of social media users condemning the singer’s actions.
The singer later took to social media to share an insincere apology video.
The three players who lost their lives were identified as Daniel Santos, 44, Lucas Barros, 19, and Lucas Padilha, 42.
Twelve other passengers were injured, including 19-year-old Doria Fadel, who remains hospitalized with a serious back injury.
Authorities confirmed that neither bus driver was drinking and are continuing to investigate the fatal incident.
Meanwhile, MC Livinho’s behaviour at the scene of the accident sparked outrage across Brazil, with thousands of social media users condemning the singer’s actions.
One person wrote: “Dancing while people are in mourning? You want to be seen at all costs, don’t you?”
“Anything for fame, anything for media. I have no idea.”
Another commented: “If there’s a news crew, traffic jams and emergency vehicles, something serious has happened. I have no idea.”
Three players who lost their lives were identified as Daniel Santos, 44 years old (in the photo), Lucas Barros, 19 years old, and Lucas Padilha, 42 years old.
The singer later took to social media to share a disingenuous apology video in which he thought of those injured, but almost immediately followed up by saying that he would not stop performing for the camera, referring to himself in the third person.
“Everyone was saying there was an accident and here we are, stuck in traffic. We didn’t know there was an accident, you know?
‘I want to express my condolences for the loss that they suffered, right? Because now that I went online, I saw fans saying, “It was an accident.” So, my condolences to everyone.
‘Come on, bro. For those who know Livinho, I will never stop bringing you joy. I will never stop bringing you my self-esteem, my talk.’
MC Livinho was in the region to attend Rock in Rio, one of the largest music festivals in the world.