“Porta dos Fundos” Producer Cadu Barcellos Murdered in Rio de Janeiro

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Filmmaker and producer Cadu Barcellos, who worked with for the Internet humor channel Porta dos Fundos, in addition to HBO’s Greg News program and was one of the directors of the documentary “Five Times Favela, Now By Ourselves” (2009), presented at the Cannes Film Festival, was stabbed to death in Rio de Janeiro in an alleged assault attempt, according to police, friends and relatives of the producer.

Carlos Eduardo Barcellos, 34, was returning from a meeting with friends in downtown in the early hours of Tuesday, November 10th, when he was approached by an assailant who stabbed him. He called for help, but did not survive his injuries. According to the producer’s friends, Cadu’s cell phone and belongings were taken in the robbery.

The producer’s body is at the Rio de Janeiro’s Forensic Institute (IML) and the police are investigating the circumstances of the crime.

“In the early hours of Tuesday, November 10th, State Police officers from the 5th Precinct (Harmonia Square) were deployed to investigate an incident at Presidente Vargas Avenue, near Uruguaiana, in downtown Rio de Janeiro. A person was found lying on the ground at the scene. An investigation was launched and the case is being handled by the Homicide Police”, reported the State Police.

On Christmas Eve 2019, the Porta dos Fundos production headquarters was the target of an attack in which two Molotov cocktails were hurled against the front of the building, located in the south zone of Rio de Janeiro. The attack was a reprisal for the humorous group’s Christmas Special. The suspect in the attack was arrested by Interpol in Russia.

The 46-minutes Christmas special presents Jesus (Gregorio Duvivier), about to celebrate his 30th birthday. He is surprised with a birthday party when he returns from the desert with his boyfriend, Orlando (Fábio Porchat). The satire with a gay Jesus displeased religious sectors, which call for censorship of the production.