Gerald Thomas, a playwright and director, publicly apologized for defending comedian Léo Lins who was sentenced to eight years and three months in prison for jokes deemed to incite violence and intolerance. Thomas stated he initially defended Lins based on headlines without knowing the content of his jokes. He expressed remorse and removed previous posts supporting Lins.
Léo Lins, despite his conviction, continues his stand-up comedy career, performing over 20 shows this semester. His new show, "Enterrado vivo," provocatively challenges political correctness and existing legal issues. Lins is known for his unfiltered humor, resulting in several legal battles. The court ruling highlighted that artistic expression does not excuse crimes like hate speech. While Lins's defense claims censorship, the court viewed the content as promoting intolerance and inciting violence against various groups including, but not limited to, people with disabilities, sexual orientations, religions, and ethnicities. Several of Lins's colleagues expressed outrage and concern over the decision.