This document summarizes a research paper about the broadcast of a sexual assault on the Brazilian reality TV show Big Brother Brasil in 2012. The assault occurred between participants Daniel and Monique while they were intoxicated. Producers did not intervene and initially labeled it a "romance." Daniel was later expelled. News coverage and magazine articles reflected societal acceptance of gender violence and victim blaming. Twitter activism criticized the network's handling of the situation. The research analyzed coverage and raised ethical concerns about producers' non-intervention and lack of follow-up on the police investigation.

1. #Danielexpulso: Gender
Violence, New Media and Big
Brother Brazil
Rachel Reis Mourao

2. Introduction
2006: Lei Maria da Penha passed to specifically protect women's
rights
Yet, every 12 seconds a woman is raped in the country (2012)
Sexual assault is prevalent in popular culture: soap opera plots,
comedy sketches and advertising

3. Big Brother Brasil 2012
Sexual assault broadcasted live on pay-per-view
#DanielExpulso
Director decided not to intervene
On the next day, edited version was labeled a
“romance”
Participant was kicked out for “inappropriate
behavior”

4. “I drank and I do not remember everything that
happened. I do not remember, because
otherwise I would have woken up and enjoyed
it, right? As for the police, I would defend
[Daniel], I must put a stop to (the investigation).
I do not wish he had been sent home [from the
show], he must hate me, but I'm not the one
who makes the rules of the program”
- Monique Amin

5. Why should we care?
• Non-scripted television: not fiction, but not news
• Producers, participants, news media and audience
“[R]eality shows do a remarkable job of reflecting the
social construction of gender within dominant
culture. In that regard, no matter how contrived the
story lines, the stereotypes of women on reality
shows appear highly consistent with those seen in
other aspects of popular media” (Brown, 2005, p.75).

6. “Em briga de marido e mulher,
nao se mete a colher”
(Between husband and wife, don’t interfere
[don’t place a spoon])
Machismo e marianismo

7. Qualitative textual analysis
Two main Brazilian weekly magazines (Veja
and Epoca): 99 articles
Nightly newscasts (TV Globo and TV
Record national broadcasts)
Tweets using the hashtag #DanielExpulso
for 24 hours after the incident

8. Nightly newscasts
Jornal Nacional (Globo):
“What happened was not different than other
situations in previous seasons of Big Brother
Brazil”
Jornal da Record:
“explosive combination of alcohol and sex”

9. Magazines
Epoca (Globo): five short articles, none
reached out to Monique’s family
Veja: cover story, editorial and 8-page
story
The reaction to a torrid sex scene
in BBB shows that, happily, not
everything is allowed even when it
is announced that privacy is over.

10. “no different than what Brazilian television
has been broadcasting for decades in its
soap operas and talk shows”
“this was a matter best suited for the
private sphere”
“announced tragedy after heavy
incentive for sex and voyeurism”
(Veja Magazine, 2012)

11. Twitter
#DanielExpulso
Culture jamming led by Globo actresses
Advertising impact  “inappropriate
behavior”

12. Ethical considerations
No follow-up with the police investigation: no information
available on the outcome
Mainstream coverage: private sphere natural outcome
Producers and director also opted for non-intervention
Limited victim-blaming  not even a crime
Twitter: cyberactivism and culture jamming  continued
pressure online and with advertisers.

13. Thank you!
rachelmourao@gmail.com
@rachelmourao
rachelmourao.wordpress.com