Alexandre Frota: The ex-porn star set to split Jair Bolsonaro’s party

In October of 2018, in the wake of Brazil’s general elections, pundits on 24-hour news channel Globo News gathered to discuss the main takeaways from the vote. Anchor Cristiana Lôbo pointed out that “traditional politicians” had lost the election, with “pastors, majors, and commanders” taking their place.

Visually troubled, long-time political pundit Merval Pereira piped up. “A porn actor,” he interjected. “A porn actor was elected, too.” An awkward silence ensued in the studio.

The “porn actor” to which Mr. Pereira was referring to is Alexandre Frota, the 55-year-old first-time member of Congress who was elected at the polls last year, receiving 155,622 votes in the state of São Paulo and representing the far-right Social Liberal Party (PSL).

Before politics, Mr. Frota made his name as a television and film actor, starring in several soap operas on TV Globo. In 2004, he moved into the adult film industry, featuring in productions such as “Beauty and the Prisoner,” “Pure Desire,” and “Frota’s Christmas Special.”

“I’m amazed people still talk about it today,” the member of Congress told Veja magazine last month. “It’s a sign that I was good at it.”

In at the deep end

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