The Brazilian O Globo newspaper has reported that TV Globo reporter Leonardo Monteiro was punched in the stomach by security personnel assigned to Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro at the G20 meeting in Rome. The assault is alleged to have occured after Monteiro attempted to question the President on his seeming isolation at the summit and why he didn't attend the G20 events on Sunday.
"Globo vehemently condemns the aggression against its correspondent Leonardo Monteiro and other colleagues in Rome and demands a complete assessment of responsibilities," TV Globo said in a statement. No official word has come from either Bolsonaro's office or the G20 organisers.
Bolsonaro has long accused the Brazilian press of having a bias against him and of publishing fake news about his reign in Brazil. In Rome, Bolsonaro appeared to be out of place at the G20 summit and did not appear to interact with other world leaders. He is also not a part of the 'family photo' taken at the Trevi fountain with other world leaders.
Reports have also come out of Bolsonaro being heckled in the streets of Rome with many critics accusing him of acting 'genocidal' with respect to the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. 600,000 have died so far as Bolsonaro failed to effect effect proper restrictions to prevent the spread of the virus. He has also come under fire for remarks made about Covid-19 vaccinations, including one statement where he claimed taking the vaccine would turn people into 'crocodiles'.
Visuals of Bolsonaro chatting to waiters while being ignored by global leaders has sparked commentary on the fall of Brazil's reputation and Bolsonaro's in particular since the defeat of Donald Trump in the US elections last year.