A televised mayoral debate in São Paulo, Brazil, turned chaotic when candidate José Luiz Datena, a TV presenter, struck his opponent Pablo Marçal with a chair after Marçal taunted him about a previous threat to hit him.

This confrontation stemmed from Marçal’s mention of a past sexual harassment complaint against Datena, which had been withdrawn but later alleged intimidation.

Following the incident, Datena was expelled from the debate, while Marçal sought medical attention for a bruised rib.

The remaining candidates continued the debate, with Marçal polling third behind current mayor Ricardo Nunes and leftist rival Guilherme Boulos, NBC News has reported.

Pollsters are now assessing the impact of this altercation on the campaigns, with some suggesting it could inadvertently boost Datena’s visibility among voters.

Written by B.C. Begley