‘Brazil’s Joe Rogan’ forced to flee after expressing ‘undemocratic ideas’
Popular Brazilian podcaster Monark says he has been forced to flee to the United States after being targeted by the country’s judiciary for espousing “undemocratic ideas.”
Known as “Brazil’s Joe Rogan,” Monark — whose real name is Bruno Aiub — has been critical of judges in the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) and the Supreme Federal Court (STF) on his program. Earlier this month Monark was summoned to conciliatory hearings with Justice Minister Flávio Dino after he called the minister “fat,” Brazilian media reported. Dino has since demanded a public retraction.
But Monark has been especially critical of Supreme Court Justice and Superior Electoral Court (TSE) President Alexandre de Moraes, who is known among Brazilian taxpayers for suspending democracy over “threats to democracy.” Earlier this year Moraes tried to block 11 elected officials from assuming office for questioning last year’s presidential election results which he said threatened the “democratic rule of law.” The judge also invoked January 6th to justify arresting Brazilians who questioned the election.
This behavior fueled further criticism from Monark.
"We see the TSE censoring people, we see Alexandre de Moraes arresting people . . . and, at the same time, they are preventing the transparency of the ballot boxes? You become suspicious. What madness is happening at the ballot boxes there? Why? Why does our political system not want to let the Brazilian people have more security? What is the interest? Manipulate the ballot boxes? Manipulate the elections? That's what I keep thinking..." the influencer mused on his program.
Moraes reacted to Monark’s criticisms by banning him from social media and prohibiting social media companies from monetizing any of Monark’s content. But in June, the Special Advisory Committee for Combating Disinformation (AEED-TSE) reported to Moraes it had detected social media movement by Monark. Not only had the influencer opened new social media accounts, but he was disseminating “openly illegal and undemocratic ideas.”
This infuriated Moraes, who fined Monark R$300,000 ($60,000) for “maintaining anti-democratic speech” and blocked the podcaster’s bank accounts.
Monark has since fled the country and is setting up operations in the US where he says he has freedom of expression.
“Brazil has become a judicial dictatorship, there is no law anymore. I am politically persecuted and, unfortunately, fearing for my safety and also to continue with my work, I was forced to come to the United States, which is a country that has freedom of expression. I will continue with my podcast talking about the Brazilian situation,” Monark told Gazeta Do Povo Wednesday.
Award-winning Brazilian journalist Paulo Figueiredo Filho, who was also censored by the judiciary and sought asylum in the US, issued a warning to Americans after Monark’s announcement.
“America: never negotiate an inch your freedom of speech. It's a point of no return,” he told his 1.3 million followers on X Wednesday.
In December, popular Brazilian comedians Paulo Souza and Bismark Fugazza also fled the country after learning that Moraes had ordered their arrest after criticizing him.
