Rio Mayor Apologizes Over Gospel Stage, Pledges Statue Honoring Tata Tancredo

Overview

• In posts on Friday, Eduardo Paes apologized to practitioners of Afro-Brazilian faiths and reaffirmed his commitment to combating religious intolerance.
• He said the city will commission a statue of Tata Tancredo and will consult religious leaders to define the form of the tribute.
• The Federal Prosecution Service requested details on funding and selection criteria for beach stages, set a January 21 deadline, and scheduled a meeting with officials and civil society.
• Paes said an AI review of 13 stages found gospel accounted for 6.25% of acts, a figure he cited in defending the lineup while signaling possible genre adjustments next year.
• The gospel stage at Leme, now in its second year, drew criticism amplified by Ivanir dos Santos as debates over equal treatment grew, while Tata Tancredo’s legacy was noted and chosen as Estácio de Sá’s 2026 Carnival theme.