A discussion on freedom, described as “a dangerous, annoying, and excellent thing” by Ricardo Araújo Pereira, drew two humorists to a literary festival in Óbidos today, filling the venue’s tent and leaving hundreds waiting outside in line for about two hours.
Moderated by José Mário Silva, the audience was first entertained when he referenced recent works by the comedians: Ricardo’s book “Mundo para Quieto” and Joana’s acquittal in a defamation lawsuit filed by the singer duo Anjos, about which she declined to comment, saving her remarks for her stand-up show.
Although Joana Marques refrained from discussing the lawsuit, where the Anjos demanded a million euros in compensation, Ricardo Araújo Pereira commented on the “hostility” he faced from the singers when he testified on Joana’s behalf and recounted a moment when “their lawyer asked ‘So, because you’re a comedian, you can say anything? For instance, can you call me a bitch if you meet me on the street?'”
Joana Marques affirmed she could, but noted “Ricardo wouldn’t, because he’s polite.”
On a more serious note, both comedians argued against imposing limits on humor and touched upon the trial, which they believed “wasn’t going anywhere,” as well as other examples like the incident of Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars.
“People who think a joke is equivalent to physical violence are people who’ve never experienced a real beating,” stated Ricardo Araújo Pereira, observing that, in both the Anjos case and the Smith-Rock incident, there was “a disproportionality between the destructive potential of the joke and the reaction.”
Following this trial, which Joana Marques remarked “became a kind of giant joke,” there were jests about Zezé Camarinha’s case against Ricardo Araújo Pereira and the threat of a criminal complaint after the comedian joked about President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
Discussing politics and humor, the dialogue included mention of Deputy Gonçalo Capitão, who will appear Sunday on “Isto é gozar com quem trabalha,” with the comedian planning to “chastise” him, saying, “I don’t do your job, please don’t do mine.”
Joana Marques pledged to continue “digging through the trash” of those sharing videos on social media to craft a “celebrity package containing only the good parts,” subjects who will remain targets of her humor.
Ricardo humorously referred to his colleague as “one and a half meters of a person with a cute demeanor causing a lot of anger,” noting that she “doesn’t like to lose.”
Joana Marques confirmed her competitive nature, even when playing with her young children, admitting, “I’m used to losing against these kids and I react badly. With the Rosado brothers, I’m not sure how I’d react, but it would have terrible consequences for me and them.”
The festival, organized by the municipality of Óbidos in partnership with the municipal company Óbidos Criativa, Ler Devagar, and the Inatel Foundation, has taken place annually since 2015 in the town recognized by UNESCO as a Creative City of Literature.
