Brazilian influencer Virginia Fonseca, 27, responded after being booed while attending the friendly match between Brazil and Panama at Maracanã Stadium on Sunday, May 31. On Monday, June 1, she shared a post about violence against women, expanding the message to include public humiliation and collective harassment. The post said that violence is not only physical, but can also appear in public shaming, group attacks, and embarrassment turned into a spectacle.
The message, shared through accounts linked to Virginia’s agency and fan base, both managed by her team, said disrespect, humiliation, and attacks should not be treated as acceptable behavior. It noted that millions of Brazilian women experience different forms of violence every day, and that many of these forms leave no physical marks but still deeply affect freedom, self-esteem, and the right to occupy public spaces. The post argued that disagreement is a right, but no woman should be made a target of public humiliation, collective aggression, or verbal violence. It added that respect should be the starting point, not a choice.
The reaction came after the crowd at the Brazil-Panama friendly booed when Vinícius Júnior, Virginia’s former boyfriend, scored a goal. According to reports from people present at the stadium, some attendees also threw paper airplanes and paper balls toward Virginia during the match.
After the game, Vinícius Júnior addressed the situation on social media and asked fans not to direct hate toward Virginia. He said their relationship had been a beautiful one and expressed a wish that people support her instead of insulting her. In his message, he emphasized that the respect and affection remain, and ended with a call for everyone to stay united behind Brazil’s push for a sixth World Cup title.
Virginia’s post and Vinícius Júnior’s appeal drew attention to the intersection of celebrity, public criticism, and gendered harassment in a high-profile sporting setting. The incident at Maracanã highlighted how a football event can quickly become a stage for personal tensions, while also prompting broader discussion about the way women are treated in public spaces and online. The message shared by Virginia’s team framed the episode as part of a larger pattern of verbal abuse, humiliation, and public shaming that can affect women beyond physical violence.
The exchange between the influencer and the football star also underscored their effort to de-escalate hostility after the match. While the crowd’s reaction at the stadium created an uncomfortable scene, both Virginia’s response and Vinícius Júnior’s statement focused on calling for respect and rejecting hate.
