Prosecutors Receive Complaint After Trans Woman Accuses Cássia Kis in Rio Restroom

Overview

• Roberta Santana, a 25-year-old employee at BarraShopping, posted a video of a confrontation she says happened Friday in the women’s restroom, capturing Cássia Kis saying she does not use the men’s bathroom.
• The video spread over the weekend and a denunciation was sent to the Rio state prosecutor’s office alleging transphobia, while the actress had not issued an official response.
• Santana says she will file a police report Monday and is receiving support from Niterói councilor Benny Briolly, who plans to take the case to prosecutors and seek accountability from the mall.
• Members of Congress weighed in Monday with split reactions, as progressive lawmakers offered help to Santana and conservative allies defended Kis and opposed trans women using women’s bathrooms.
• Brazil treats transphobia as a crime similar to racism with possible prison terms, and Kis already faces separate cases over alleged anti-LGBTQ remarks, including a federal action accepted in 2025 and a civil suit seeking damages.