Ana Castela ordered to pay damages for social media accusations

Brazilian singer Ana Castela has been ordered to pay R$ 2,000 in moral damages after labeling a man a “criminoso” (criminal) on social media. The ruling follows an incident in Bananal, São Paulo, where a man filmed a horse that had its legs mutilated by another individual during a ride.

A judge in Bananal ruled that while the man contributed to the dissemination of the event by filming, there was no evidence to support accusing him of participating in the animal cruelty. The man filed a lawsuit claiming the singer’s Instagram posts led to public persecution, the loss of his job as a delivery rider, and emotional distress.

While the man initially sought significantly higher compensation for professional losses and emotional damage, the court focused on the lack of evidence linking him to the crime itself.