The video of Sara Taylor being attacked by surfer Joao Paulo Azevedo has gone viral
A dispute between two surfers in Bali led to the savage multiple head punches of an American woman on camera. Surfing in Uluwatu, Bali’s southwest, on Wednesday, April 6, Americans Sara Taylor and Adriano Portela were both caught in the same wave at the same moment.
Who is Brazilian surfer Joao Paulo “JP” Azevedo who attacked Sara Taylor while surfing in Bali in viral video
GRAVE 🚨🌊
Surfista norte-americana é agredida com soco por brasileiro em Bali
O agressor, Joao Paulo Azevedo, começou a briga devido a uma disputa de onda:
– Achei que era um homem
🗞️ GE
🎥 salad_tray pic.twitter.com/vId8QuB6Xe— Xportudo (@xportudo) April 6, 2023
Surfista brasileiro SOCOU surfista americana e "pediu desculpas":
"Essa menina parecia um homem, eu não sabia que ela era mulher. Ela surfava igual homem, se vestia igual homem."
Nome: João Paulo Azevedo (apelido JP)
Excluiu as redes sociais, então coloco a cara aqui. https://t.co/77jnkzkMYn pic.twitter.com/4DKKYiKDxy
— celsodossi (@celsodossi) April 7, 2023
Before Portela bailed and turned the wave on to Taylor, a battle between the two erupted as they collided while getting on their boards. But, when professional surfer Joao Paulo “JP” Azevedo expressed fury on behalf of his friend Portela, things took a sharp turn. He intensified the situation by attacking the female surfer violently.
What did the video show?
“The guy’s companion smacked me in the head on my first wave after I was dropped in, and after he was confronted about punching me, he attacked Charlie on the beach for photographing him. Does anyone know who they are? This is ridiculous.,” Taylor said in an Instagram post.
Taylor was spotted swimming back towards the surf lineup when Azevedo paddled over to her and punched her in the back of the head. As everyone had returned to land, Azevedo, Portela, and their henchmen pursued Sara and Charlie McCharg to resume their attack.
“Don’t record me,” before attempting to punch Sara in the face and yanking her towel from her shoulder, Azevedo yelled. The eight thugs can then be seen surrounding the women, with one of them appearing to push Taylor and kick McCharg’s motorbike. Before the video tape stops suddenly as the camera drops, the victim could be heard screaming at the men to “get away.”
Surfing community is outraged by incident
The violent attack’s viral footage has infuriated the surfing community. Australian professional surfer Felicity Palmateer and 11-time World Surf League winner Kelly Slater denounced the men’s “disgusting” behaviour.
Who is Joo Paulo Azevedo?
Even though he hasn’t participated in the World Surf League, Azevedo is a well-known surfer in Brazil. In the beginner, child, junior, and professional divisions of the national Esprito Santo tournament, he has won championships. In spite of the Covid-19 pandemic delaying filming, the attacker accepted an invitation to Indonesia to create a surfing documentary in 2019 and ended up settling there permanently after falling in love with the locale.
Azevedo and Portela’s names were unknown when the video was first released, but internet sleuths quickly determined who they were.
The sponsor of Azevedo fires him
Due to the event, Azevedo’s sponsor Quebra Onda made the decision to fire him public on Thursday. The company issued a statement saying, “After becoming aware of the unfortunate events that have occurred, we repudiate all kinds of violence being mainly against women.” As a result of his internet fame, Azevedo has deleted his Instagram account.
Later, Azevedo apologised.
Azevedo expressed his regret and shame in a video that was later uploaded to YouTube. He asserted that he was the real victim, nevertheless. The web video, he claimed, did not capture the entire encounter, and its release “placed him in a dangerous position.”
He stated, “I witnessed a surfer push my friend and went to question why [they did it] and got punched in the face and then I returned.” “I finally understood it was a woman. I then emerged from the water to apologise. My board was taken into the car by them.”