The world of bullfighting has been struck by a second, devastating tragedy following the suicide of a grieving mother who was hounded by online trolls celebrating her son's death in the ring.
Marisa Mendes, the heartbroken mother of 29-year-old matador Nuno Mendes, took her own life just weeks after her son was fatally gored during a tourada in the Portuguese town of Tagilde. Her death has been directly linked to a barrage of vicious social media abuse from anti-bullfighting activists.
A Double Tragedy
The sequence of events began on September 20th when Nuno Mendes, a rising star in the traditional Portuguese bullfighting scene, was tragically killed. The young man's death sent shockwaves through his community and the specialised world of Iberian bullfighting.
Rather than being allowed to grieve in peace, his mother Marisa became the target of what Portuguese authorities are calling "digital terrorism." Cruel trolls flooded her social media accounts with hateful messages, some even going so far as to celebrate her son's death and wish similar fates upon other family members.
The Cruelty of Keyboard Warriors
According to local reports, the abuse was relentless and deeply personal. Anti-bullfighting activists shared graphic images of her son's fatal injuries and sent messages claiming he "got what he deserved." This horrific campaign continued despite pleas from the family for privacy during their mourning period.
Friends of the family reported that Marisa, already shattered by the loss of her son, was completely destroyed by the ongoing online harassment. She was found dead on October 12th, leaving behind a community in mourning and raising serious questions about the devastating real-world impact of online abuse.
Community Outrage and Calls for Action
The double tragedy has sparked outrage across Portugal, with many calling for stronger action against online harassment. Local mayor Antonio Ribeiro expressed his shock and sorrow, stating that while freedom of expression is important, it should never extend to celebrating death or harassing grieving families.
Bullfighting, while controversial, remains a legal and traditional practice in certain regions of Portugal, differing significantly from Spanish-style bullfighting as the animals are not killed in the ring during Portuguese touradas.
This heartbreaking case highlights the increasingly urgent need to address online harassment and its very real consequences, proving that words from anonymous keyboard warriors can indeed have fatal outcomes in the physical world.
