Milton Cunha criticizes Virginia Fonseca’s performance as Grande Rio drum queen

Carnival commentator Milton Cunha has criticized influencer Virginia Fonseca regarding her tenure as the drum queen (rainha de bateria) for the Grande Rio samba school. During an appearance on the program ‘Blogueirinha Entrevista’, Cunha noted that Fonseca lacked the necessary samba skills, stating that her performance during initial presentations made it clear she did not have ‘samba no pé’ (rhythmic footwork).

Cunha further commented that Fonseca struggled to connect with the community she represented and failed to grasp the complex structure of the parade. He recalled instances of tension during her debut at the Marquês de Sapucaí, where she faced boos from the stands and had to remove parts of her heavy costume due to physical discomfort.

Following the 2026 parade, Fonseca announced her departure from the role. Grande Rio has selected singer Anitta as the new drum queen for the 2027 Carnival.