Outrage after pro surfer assaults American woman at Bali beach in horrifying video
BALI, INDONESIA: An American woman was filmed getting punched brutally several times in the head by a man following an altercation while surfing in Bali. US national Sara Taylor and Brazilian Adriano Portela were both caught in the same wave at the same time while they were surfing in Uluwatu, in Bali's south-west, on Wednesday, April 6.
A fight broke out between the two as they bumped into one another as they mounted their boards before Portela bailed and left the wave to Taylor. However, things took a drastic turn when professional surfer João Paulo 'JP' Azevedo got outraged on behalf of his friend Portela. He escalated the event by launching a violent attack on the female surfer.
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What was shown in the video?
“After being dropped in on, on my first wave, the guy's friend punched me in the head and then after being confronted about hitting me, he attacked Charlie on the beach for filming him. this is insane, does anyone know who they are?” Taylor posted to Instagram.
Azevedo was seen paddling over to Taylor in the online footage and punching her in the back of the head while she swam back towards the surf line up. Once they were all back on shore, Azevedo, Portela and their retinues then pursued Sara and her British friend Charlie McCharg to continue their assault.
"Don't film me!" Azevedo shouted before he tried to throw his fist into Sara's face and pulled her towel from her shoulder. The group of eight hooligans can then be seen surrounding the women, with one seeming to kick McCharg's motorbike and push Taylor. The victim could be heard screaming 'go away' at the men before the clip ends abruptly as the camera falls.
Incident outrages surfing community
The surfing community is fuming since the video of the savage attack has gone viral. 11-time World Surf League champion Kelly Slater and Australian pro surfer Felicity Palmateer condemned the men's 'disgusting' behaviour. "This is so disgusting and actually terrifying," Palmateer wrote, according to Daily Mail. "I hope you’re alright. Get these guys deported ASAP!"
Kelly Slater wrote in his post by tagging friends who live in Bali, "Do you guys know these guys? What's the deal? Get this guy [Azevedo] sent home where he belongs." Brazilian professional surfer Filipe Toledo apologized and sent his well wishes to Sara and Charlie. "I’m sorry that happened to you guys!" Toledo said. "Hope you guys are ok! Don’t stress with people with this kind of energy! They don’t last long, life will come back to them!"
Who is João Paulo 'JP' Azevedo?
Azevedo is a star surfer in Brazil even though he has not competed in the World Surf League. He has won titles in the national Espírito Santo competition in the beginner, child, junior, and professional divisions. The assailant was invited to Indonesia to make a surfing documentary in 2019 and, despite filming being delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, he fell in love with the area and relocated permanently.
When the video was first published, Azevedo and Portela's identities were unknown but internet sleuths quickly identified the individuals.
Azevedo's sponsor dumps him
Azevedo's sponsor Quebra Onda announced they were dumping him on Thursday as a result of the incident. "After becoming aware of the unfortunate events that have occurred, reiterates that we repudiate all kinds of violence being mainly against women," the brand said in a statement. "Having this type of behavior inadmissible, we inform you that we have made the immediate decision to end our partnership with the athlete JP Azevedo."
Azevedo has shut down his Instagram account in the wake of his viral infamy.
Azevedo's questionable claims
While trying to justify his shameful act, Azevedo claimed to a Brazilian media outlet that he hit Taylor because she looked like a man. "I didn’t know she was a woman. She surfed like a man, dressed like a man," he told Globo. "She was riding everyone’s wave, she wasn’t respecting anyone. She went with my friend’s wave and pushed my friend out of the loop. I went to ask why she had done that to my friend. She went by and threw water in my face, cursed me. And then I lost my mind due to momentary stress and ended up attacking her. I lost my reason. After I attacked her I saw that it was a woman. She was wearing a T-shirt and I couldn’t see her bra. Soon after I apologized, a friend of mine came paddling up and I said, ‘Calm down, it’s a woman’”.
Azevedo later issued an apology
Azevedo said he was 'deeply sorry and ashamed' in a video later posted on YouTube. However, he claimed that he was the true victim. He said that the video posted online did not depict the entire incident and that its publication "put me in a dangerous position". "I saw a surfer push my friend and went to ask [them] why [they did it] and got punched on my face and then I retaliated," he claimed. "Then I realised it was a woman. Then I got out of the sea to apologise. They took my board inside the car.. I went to get my board back defending myself from attacks.. And in between attacks I also attacked." Meanwhile, Portela also took to social media to issue a lengthy statement apologizing about the ordeal.