Like the best comedians, Jô Soares was a free, independent spirit. Died this Friday, aged 84has always defended freedom of expression, never accepted the setting of limits on humor, and never supported any project that reeked of censorship or authoritarianism.
It is with this in mind that one of the most surprising and controversial interviews he has done should be understood. In June 2015, Jô and his team went to Brasília to talk to President Dilma Rousseff.
It was a pleasant conversation, with no harsh questions. The presenter did not avoid thorny subjects, but adopted a gentle stance, either asking open (and unspecific) questions, or avoiding answering the answers with retorts.
At that time, Dilma was already under heavy bombardment from Congress and the media – the Chamber of Deputies approved the impeachment request a few months later, in December of that year.
Hosting talk shows since 1988, this was only the second time Jô had interviewed an incumbent president of Brazil. The first was with Fernando Henrique Cardoso, at the time of his re-election. At the end of April 2004, in a rumored episode, Jô canceled a scheduled interview with Lula, dissatisfied to learn that the then president would receive SBT presenter Ratinho at Granja do Torto days before.
The interview with Dilma was almost unanimously criticized; Jô was offended and even threatened for having treated the president with cordiality. I talked to him the day after the show, and he said:
“I thought this was the most important interview of my career because of the moment we are living. It is a difficult time for the president and I thought it was brave for her to receive me. It made me emotional.” Jô treated the first criticisms of the interview with good humor, considered very favorable to the president. “I’m a root PT”, he told me, laughing. A few days later, someone sprayed on the streetin front of his building: “Morra Jô Soares”.
In a note, this Friday, Dilma recorded: “Jô was the only voice within Globo willing to listen to me at that moment. And I won’t forget that.”
In 2016, when starting the last season of “Programa do Jô”, he spoke about it again: “I have always been free to demonstrate all political tendencies. I never failed to interview a president of this or that party. When I interviewed Dilma they called me a PT. When I interviewed Fernando Henrique I became PSDB. So I’m a ‘coxista’, half coxinha, half PT,” he said. “Lula came to the program 13 times, Fernando Henrique ten times. I think this is the greatest proof of impartiality,” he added.
Among Jô Soares’ countless accomplishments, this is perhaps one of the most subtle and current: his cordiality and tolerance for those who are different.
Addendum: Jô Soares published his autobiography in two volumes, at the beginning and at the end of 2018. “O Livro de Jô – An unauthorized autobiography” is a work that is both fun and revealing. In partnership with journalist Matinas Suzuki Jr, Jô revisits his personal and professional trajectory in detail. It is a must to get to know and understand the artist better. I wrote about the first volume and about the second.