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The accusations of sexual harassment against the actor and director Marcius Melhem, narrated in sordid details in an important report in Piauí magazine this month, lend a melancholy tone to the end of the Carlos Henrique Schroder administration, which from 2013 until the end of the year last was the TV Globo is almighty. Schroder, the executive who most “deconstructed” the nation’s largest television network, left the scene in early 2021, exposed by a silent scandal in the name of corporate (and corporatist) secrecy.
It is frivolous to point the finger at Globo’s dome and affirm that he was silent in the face of serious accusations against one of them, since Melhem was director of the station’s Humor group, that is, Schroder himself.
It must be considered that Melhem never admitted to having committed sexual harassment and that he has been pointing out revenge in the narrative of the actress Dani Calabresa, for whom the comedian would have shown his penis during a party to celebrate episode 100 of the Zorra program, in November 2017 In Melhem’s speech, Dani did not assimilate the disapproval of his project at the end of 2019, and decided to bring up an episode that occurred two years later.
But it was not just Dani Calabresa. After the actress, Globo received five other complaints of sexual harassment against Melhem and another five of moral harassment. Even so, the station never publicly acknowledged that the comedian left the station in August, through the back door. On the contrary.
Unlike what happened to actor José Mayer, who made headlines in his news in 2017 for harassing a costume designer, Globo never associated the departure of the talented Melhem with allegations of sexual harassment. If he was fired for it, his victims deserved to know that there was some justice.
But no: in March, when Dani Calabresa’s complaints to the company’s compliance area made the stay of the head of the Humor department untenable, Globo did not deny the information that Melhem was acquitted after an internal investigation.
In a press release, the announcer reported that Melhem was leaving his executive functions and away from creative functions for four months to take care of personal matters (after the medical treatment of a daughter in the United States).
In August, when the network had already received at least six complaints of sexual harassment, the comedian’s contract was terminated. The official note was wiped away at Melhem again. The statement said the “successful 17-year partnership” ended in “common agreement.” It implied that Melhem was leaving within a policy of reducing expenses.
“As you all know, Globo has taken a series of initiatives to prepare for the challenges of the future and, with this, has adopted new dynamics of alliance with actors and creators on its multiple platforms,” said the note.
Officially, Melhem was not fired.
Last Friday (4), after João Batista Jr.’s brave report in Piauí magazine, Globo lost another opportunity to tell the harsh truth. Here is the full text of the new official note:
“Globo does not comment on compliance issues, but reaffirms that any report of harassment, moral or sexual, is carefully evaluated as soon as the company is aware of it. Globo does not tolerate abusive behavior on its computers and encourages the reporting of any abuse. ., maintains an open channel to report violations of the Grupo Globo Code of Ethics.For this code, we assume the commitment of secrecy of the process, as well as that of investigating, not commenting on the findings and taking the appropriate measures, which may move from a warning to dismissal of the employee, even in case of dismissal, the reasons for compliance are not made public
We take great care that management styles are appropriate to the behaviors and attitudes that Globo wants to promote and that the measures adopted are in accordance with what has been found. It was no different in this case. Welcoming and empathizing with those who report violations of the Code of Ethics are fundamental points of the company’s compliance program.
This does not mean that compliance processes are static. Unlike. They constantly evolve to keep up with the debates in society. At all times, practices and evaluations are reviewed, as well as suggestions and suggestions to improve internal communication mechanisms are proposed and accepted. Society itself is changing and the company is following this process. “
In other words, Globo never officially fired Marcius Melhem for showing his penis to a co-worker, or any act that disappoints him.
It is undeniable that Globo failed in this case. The station itself recognizes that it is learning. The facts show that she protected (and continues to protect) a professional accused of ethical misconduct and that she compensated the victim with a photo in the late Se Joga and a program on GNT.
Carlos Henrique Schroder, Marcius Melhem’s boss, will not leave Globo because of the way he handled the case. The scandal, however, burns his reputation as an executive who modernized Globo, renewed the list of soap opera authors and gave his journalism a prestige it never had, in part caused by Bolsonarism.
Schroder did not invent the “couch test”, it is true, but Globo under his command remained a macho and toxic company. Despite having instituted a compliance department (which has received more than 4,000 complaints) and punishing cases of racism and harassment, Schroder’s Globo has not given victims the public recognition they deserve. Needless to say, Melhem bullied them (mostly because, unless I’m wrong, there is no material evidence). Just talk to all the letters the station left because of the complaints.
