The year of 2025 was marked by several controversies involving famous personalities and the artistic world. Below, check out some of the ones that have attracted the most attention, but still seem far from being successful.
1. The arrest of Hytalo Santos
A video by YouTuber Felca talking about “adultization” went viral on social networks in August 2025. As the subject was trendy, the name of the influencer Hytalo Santos, known for publishing content involving minors (consuming alcoholic beverages or in sexualized conditions), ended up being the target of several investigations.
Alongside her husband, Israel Vicente, known as Euro, Hytalo was detained in Carapicuíba, São Paulo, and later transferred to a prison in Paraíba, accused of crimes of human trafficking and sexual exploitation of children. Both claim to be innocent.
Last December, Hytalo and Israel were accused of human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation and working in conditions similar to slavery, following a complaint from the Public Ministry of Labor. His lawyers claimed at the time that it was “information and facts disconnected from reality”.
Although Hytalo and Israel remain in prison, the trial does not yet have a date set. It is likely that further developments in this case (or even a possible conviction or acquittal) will continue to attract attention even after this year is over.
2. Juliana Oliveira and Otavio Mesquita
Former member of the programme’s fixed cast At nightof SBT, Juliana Oliveira accused presenter Otávio Mesquita of rape during the recording of a comedy sketch before her interview on the attraction, in April 2016.
On this occasion, dressed as Batman, he descended from the ceiling using a rope, touching, grabbing and even simulating frenzied acts with Juliana. The complaint was only made public in 2025, after the actor’s departure from SBT. Otávio Mesquita denied the accusations and the video of the moment continues to be broadcast on the club’s YouTube channel. At night.
The case had a wide impact in the press, which covered the legal confrontations between the two men. Recently, the court rejected a request for free schooling for Juliana, as well as the request for compensation for moral damage requested by Otávio Mesquita. The process is not yet complete and is expected to continue over the next year.
3. Sydney Sweeney’s box office
Last July, American Eagle Outfitters launched an ad campaign featuring the actress using the phrase “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans”, which translates in Portuguese to something like “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans”.
As the pronunciation of the word “jeans” in English is similar to that of “genes”, some of the public understood the slogan as a supposed allusion to the fact that she was blonde and had blue eyes, emphasizing a specific type of beauty – there were even accusations of advocating eugenics.
Considering the repercussions, the actress’s name came up. It was revealed that Sweeney was affiliated with the Republican Party of the United States, as was President Donald Trump – who commented in support of the ad.
The following month, the film Americanstarring Sydney, was considered a box office failure in its opening weekend, attributed to the poor response to the campaign. Along Christieabout a gay boxer, also failed to live up to expectations and suffered the same type of criticism.
In the final stretch of 2025, Sydney Sweeney decided to speak out about the repercussions. “I was really surprised by the reaction. I did it because I love the jeans and I love the brand. I don’t share the opinions that some people have chosen to attach to the campaign. Many have attached labels and motivations to me that simply aren’t true.”
It’s highly likely that the controversy will resurface as new projects featuring Sweeney in the cast are released. Either to link a supposed drop in ticket sales to advertising, or to assert that the controversy was left aside in the event of success.
Among the most anticipated are The servant, which should be launched in Brazil from the first week of the year, and the new season of Euphoria.
4. Dona Ruth, the son of Murilo Huff and Marília Mendonça
Since the death of the singer Marília Mendonça, in 2021, the impression was that the relationship between her mother, Dona Ruth Moreira, and Murilo Huff, the father of Marília’s son Leo, was harmonious and cordial. In 2025, however, they argue over custody of the child.
Huff’s lawyers cited “alarming situations” among the motivations for seeking custody of Leo. He also accused his grandmother of parental alienation. In July, when a court injunction granted temporary custody to Leo’s father, determining that Ruth would see him every 15 days, she granted an interview to Fantastic in which he stated that the bank account with the amount Leo would be entitled to by inheritance would be blocked, and he also denied failing to use medication for Leo’s health problems, another accusation from his former son-in-law.
So far, it has not been revealed whether the parties have reached an agreement or the legal dispute has ended.
5. The arrest of Leo Lins
In a case of international scope, comedian Léo Lins was sentenced to eight years in prison, in addition to paying a fine of 1,170 minimum wage and R$303,000 in collective moral damages (read the sentence here) for a show published on YouTube in 2022. He was able to respond freely and his lawyer, Carlos Eduardo Ramos, appealed and declared that he “hopes that this injustice will be repaired in second instance”.
Controversial, the affair sparked a multitude of reactions, including within the artistic class, with personalities taking a position against or in favor of the comedian’s conviction. The process is expected to continue beyond 2025.
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