After being the target of virulent attacks on the internet, Drauzio Varella apologized to the parents of the child murdered by Suzy Oliveira, trans woman who the doctor and communicator hugged in a report from Fantastic (TV Globo) about what day-to-day life is like for transgender inmates in prison.
“It is a crime that shocks us all. I wrote a note in which I was sincere in saying that I did not enter that prison as a judge, but rather as a doctor. Being a doctor guides my perspective in all situations”, explains Varella in a video published on his popular YouTube channel.
“I can imagine the pain and I apologize to the family of the boy who was unwittingly involved in the case. In the article in question, the focus was to show the conditions in which transsexual prisoners live. Official statistics indicate that the vast majority of them are imprisoned for robbery and theft. The way Suzy was presented made it seem like she was part of that majority group.”
Varella continues stating that he understands the frustration of those who were disappointed in him and also explained that he hugged Suzy when, during the interview with him, the inmate expressed sadness at not receiving visitors in eight years.
“For those who think I made a mistake, I’m sorry, but that’s my way. I regret it, but I take full responsibility for the negative repercussions the case had.”
