On August 7, 2025, an incident at Paróquia Nossa Senhora Consolata in São Manuel, São Paulo, brought Bezerra's public profile into sharply different territory. During an exorcism ritual, a 62-year-old woman alleged that Bezerra physically assaulted her in the course of the rite. The Archdiocese of Botucatu responded by removing him from his ministerial position — a decision that drew significant attention in Brazil and internationally.
The case prompted broader questions about the protocols governing exorcism practices within the Catholic Church in Brazil, including the standards expected of officiating clergy and the oversight mechanisms in place for such rites. A particular point of public and ecclesiastical scrutiny involved the intersection of Bezerra's physical conditioning as a BJJ black belt with his conduct during a religious ceremony, raising questions about how his athletic background may have factored into the events of that day. The matter remains a subject of ongoing discussion in both religious and civil contexts in Brazil.