Brazil was in mourning Wednesday the day after the death of Paulo Gustavo, one of the most popular comedians in this country, struck down by the Covid-19 at only 42 years old, after 53 days of hospitalization.
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“
At 9:12 pm Tuesday, unfortunately, the patient Paulo Gustavo Monteiro died, a victim of complications from Covid-19,
” announced the Rio de Janeiro hospital where he had been treated since March 13.
His health had improved in recent weeks, but deteriorated again from Monday.
"
You have shone a lot on earth, but you are a star that will shine even brighter in the sky, watching over our family,
" reacted on Instagram the husband of Paulo Gustavo, the dermatologist Thales Bretas.
The couple had two one-year-old sons, born to surrogate mothers.
Sixteen million followers on Instagram
Even the far-right president Jair Bolsonaro, however familiar with homophobic slippages, paid tribute to him.
“
May God receive him with joy and comfort his family and friends, as well as those of all the victims of the Covid,
” he wrote on Twitter.
“
The Covid took one of our own once again.
A great Brazilian, who brought a lot of joy to our country
”, declared for his part the ex-president of the left Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (2003-2010).
“
Paulo Gustavo was the expression of Brazilian joy
,” singer Caetano Veloso also said.
Followed by more than sixteen million subscribers on Instagram, Paulo Gustavo was famous in Brazil for having created the character of Dona Herminia, a zany mother whom he played himself for several years in the theater, in the play
Minha mãe é uma peça
(
My mother is a play
,
editor's note
:)
, then in the cinema, with three films which have broken admissions records.
A large number of Internet messages mixed tribute to the comedian and critics of the health management of the Bolsonaro government, which has continued to downplay the seriousness of the pandemic.
Read also: Brazil: Bolsonaro soon under investigation for his management of the pandemic
Brazil is the second most bereaved country behind the United States, with more than 411,000 deaths from the virus in just over a year.