More abuse allegations surface against surfer who attacked women in Bali

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Surfers around the world became familiar with the name JP Azevedo this week when footage surfaced of Brazilian surfer attacking Sara Taylor in Bali. Taylor says she confronted Azevedo on land for punching her in the water, which is when he also attacked her cameraman. She posted the images online asking, “Does anyone know who they are?” and internet sleuths quickly identified Azevedo and Adriano Portela in the video.

The viral video spread quickly and now Carol Braga, who says she is Azevedo’s ex-girlfriend, says it was not the first time he assaulted a woman. In a post shared Thursday on Instagram, Braga says she heard the news of Bali’s incident with Taylor, and admits she was shocked, but it motivated her to open up about her own experience with Azevedo.

His statement, translated from Portuguese, reads as follows:

I dated JP Azevedo in 2018 and 2019. We broke up when he attacked me heavily. I ended up in the hospital with a traumatic brain injury. I was so ashamed of everything and especially (for) my daughter whom I love so much. (…) In short, I ended up isolating myself for almost three months in a guesthouse in Rio, until the physical marks emerged. But those of the heart…those that still last. Very difficult all that.. because I loved him…

Today, after such news, I decided to speak out and expose myself. I don’t know if I’m doing it right. Forgive me (my daughter) if you don’t love her.

I wish for more peace in the world.

Many professional surfers, including Kelly Slater, Filipe Toledo, Gabriel Medina and Tatiana Weston-Webb, commented on Braga’s post.

At least one of Azevedo’s sponsors has publicly announced they are cutting ties with him since the footage of the fight was released. Azevedo disappeared from social media but claimed in a statement to media that he did not know Taylor was female when he attacked her and “lost his mind in momentary stress”.

“Shortly after I apologized, a friend of mine came paddling up and I said, ‘Calm down, she’s a woman,'” he said. It’s worth pointing out that even though Azevedo claims he only hit Taylor thinking she was a man, and another surfer told him otherwise in the water, the video still shows Azevedo l attacking on earth afterwards.

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