Journalist Alline Prado, Globo TV’s first and only black host of ‘Video Show’ program, is fired and replaced by 4 white women; network wanted a ‘more neutral’ person
Photos courtesy of Notícias Live 
Alline Prado is a rare example of the black female journalist who has gained prominence on a nationally televised journal on one of Brazil’s top TV networks. As we’ve seen in numerous past posts, looking at Brazilian TV, one could easily make the mistake of believing they were watching TV in some European nation. Even Angela Davis has noted this. Prado, who was the first and only black host of the top rated Rede Globo’s Video Show program. The verb stressed here is WAS as she was fired last year. Prado had remained silent on her termination until recently when she revealed that Globo justified her termination by saying they were in search of a “more neutral” person. On the topic, Prado quipped that they “don’t let us occupy the big house, no matter how qualified we are.”
But what did the station mean when it said “more neutral”? Well, when we saw the replacements for Prado it became quite apparent. Four women, all white, took Prado’s place.
Almost 3,000 people liked Prado post on the topic last Thursday (19) by way of her Instagram profile. After the incident, Prado revealed specifics of how she saw the incident go down. Responding the post of another woman questioning the TV show’s lack of diversity, Alline responded that she Globo justified her dismissal saying that the network needed someone “more neutral” for the bench and that they were “wiping out” the team, which didn’t really make sense as they the program’s new group of hosts is larger than it was during Prado’s time. The four women replacing Prado are Sophia Abrahão, who already had experience in the show’s host slot, along with Ana Clara, Fernanda Keulla and Vivian Amorim, all former participants of Globo’s long-running reality show BBB, Big Brother Brasil.
“Although I was the first black woman to sit on the bench of the program, I was dismissed on the grounds that, although they liked my work, they needed someone ‘more neutral’ than I. And as they were going through a crisis, they needed to wipe out the reporters (who after my departure increased). I’ve never said it publicly, but it hurts me too much to see this happen. They are the contemporary lashes. They won’t let us occupy the room of the casa grande (big house), however skilled we may be,” she wrote. In today’s environment, Afro-Brazilians often make reference to the casa grande, or big house, to describe today’s race relations which, in many ways, still reflect Brazil’s 350 year history of the white master/black slave relationship.
Alline then followed up that post by reiterating the racist grounds of her dismissal. “It’s nothing against the girls on the Video Show. I even follow them and I’m a fan of them. It’s against the colonization of our imaginary. We can only appear on TV if it’s in a situation of subservience and suffering. And always as a quota. It’s against us thinking that there is no racism, that all of this is mimimi (whining). As long as the non-blacks fold their arms and close their eyes to this, we will continue to be gagged, whipped, made invisible, and dead. We need allies in this fight. We need you!”, she vented.
Viewers of the program have already voiced their disapproval of show, criticizing not only lack of diversity, but also how the women seem the lack synergy working together.
Nothing against the video show hosts. Nothing against tall white women. But do you really need FOUR tall, white women to present the Video Show?
Some viewers even joked about the new hosts
There’s approximately 17 white women presenting the video show
Other viewers even wondered what purpose having four women on the program served
Guys, when did the Video Show become a pub with a DJ and everything?!
The fact that Globo has ALWAYS preferred to feature a more European phenotype was also not lost on the program’s viewers.
You only wanted more representation, you turn on the TV ad see journals hosted by white people, Ana Maria (Braga): white, Fátima (Bernardes): white, Tramontina: white, hosts of Video Show: white women. What the fu*k will it be that in a country of 51% blacks and browns, no one is a good host?
To dismiss a black professional, justify the resignation saying that it wants something more “neutral” and then hire 3 former white BBBs to replace her. That’s why Video Show sucks and it’s not the girls’ fault, it’s the racist production of the show!
Alinne Prado was competent, charismatic, and professional. The other girl whose name I don’t know, but would she belong to the same core of reporters as she, is still there. Needless to say, that other girl is white, right? Yeah, racism comes masked with a lot of apologies. Sad.
In the end, Globo TV’s actions prove a few things about racism and white supremacy that I’ve long pointed out but that many people still either don’t know, don’t recognize or refuse to admit. The standard skin color in many areas of Western and even non-Western societies is whiteness. Globo itself proved this very point by claiming they wanted someone “more neutral” to host the show. In other words, a group of people whose status is society allows them to be raceless and thus standard, or neutral.
When we speak of how racism functions in society, it’s not simply someone insulting another person with a racially insensitive remark or joke. It is the privilege of not belonging to a historically racially penalized group. It is the factor for which many black people believe they must be twice as good to be able to compensate for a lack of whiteness (neutrality). It’s always laughable to hear the excuses these networks use for such actions. This from the same network that said they don’t choose casts or talent based on race. Of course, I know…it’s just so happens that ALL four of the women they consider to be “more neutral” happen to be all white.
The truly sad part of this situation is the that it once again demonstrates the precarious situation of black Brazilians who wish to succeed in mainstream media. Without any power or ownership in the media, those who want success will have to know how to “play the game”, stay in line and not “rock the boat”. As such, ALL black Brazilians who have managed to find success can only go so far in “representing” or all risk suffering the same fate of Alline Prado.
Alline Prado is the whole package.
Those 4 young, inexperienced, somewhat pretty, and white women cannot compete with her.
Black journalists and entertainers can seek venture capitalist funding to start a small network specifically for black and brown ppl in Brazil. This is how the original black owned BET came about. Oprah also created her network which is finally profitable and successful after a few years of non-profitability and lots of criticisms. Instead of waiting for a seat at someone else’s table we need to start thinking of creating our own tables and being happy and contented sitting at it. Both BET and OWN are very successful even though the black population in the US is only 14%, how much more successful with a black network do in Brazil which has a much higher black population. Alline can use her knowledge, talent, and contacts to be forefront in spearheading a venture for a Black network in Brazil, forget about her old place of work and think bigger.
Correct!! you are on point Jules its funny cause I just had a conversion with my folks about moving to brazil in 2020 and starting my own business. With 52-55% ( and growing) black population they should be ahead in terms of black owned businesses. Heck, here in the U.S. we have a handful of black owned banks as mentioned radio and television companies and we have like only one black majority professional sports team owner. We have made some progress to only be a fraction of Brazil’s Afro population. Brazil have huge numbers its past time to use it to your economic advantage.
In brazil what the diffenct between pardo and preto I’m assuming the a preto in brazil is someone whom 100% black and pardo is 50% black and 50 % Portuguese right
In America, there is a consciousness of being black. In Brazil to what extent is the afrodescendente population conscious of being so? Many see themselves as part of the mainstream so they are not conscious of a need for a BET.
she’s married to a white brazilian. go figure.