Influencer Adair Mendes Dutra Junior has reportedly died after experiencing complications from a cosmetic procedure. He was 31.
People reported on Monday, October 6, that the fashion influencer died on Friday, October 3. Prior to his death, Junior amassed more than 100,000 followers on Instagram.
In an interview one month prior to Junior’s death, the influencer alleged that he had an infection after undergoing a cosmetic procedure he underwent months before from surgeon Fernando Garbi. Junior claimed to Brazilian news network Feed TV that he sought out medical treatment at a local hospital over the infection.
He also provided the outlet with videos seemingly showing the influencer receiving the procedure on his face, including a clip where Junior’s face appeared to be bruised and swollen. The content creator claimed at the time that he was under the watch of a dermatologist.
After Junior’s death, his friend Gean Souza detailed the influencer’s final days in an interview with Brazilian magazine Quem. Souza claimed in the interview, translated to English, that Junior developed an infection and “became ill, felt very short of breath and was taken to the nearest emergency room at a public hospital” on Friday.
Prior to his death, Junior filed a request for investigation against Garbi with the 15th Police District of São Paulo, in legal documents obtained by Brazilian news outlet Portal Leo Dias. Junior reportedly sued Garbi for six crimes, including illegal practice of medicine, fraudulent misrepresentation and serious bodily injury, per People.
In a statement from Garbi’s lawyer, which was shared via the doctor’s Instagram, he denied that he had any “connection” to Junior’s death. The message, which was translated to English, alleged that claims suggesting otherwise were made “by people eager for brief moments of notoriety.”
“All legal measures, in the civil and criminal spheres, will be taken against the authors of the insults and slander, so that they respond, to the exact extent of their responsibilities, for the injuries perpetrated against Doctor Fernando,” the message read, which was posted on Sunday, October 5.
In March, Garbi also denied to Portal Leo Dias that Junior’s alleged infection was related to the cosmetic procedure.
In one of Junior’s last Instagram posts before his death, the influencer reflected on his life while sharing a series of photos of him posing for the camera.
“A record of how I feel today: at peace with my choices, strong in the face of battles, and increasingly true to my essence,” the Instagram caption read in August, translated to English. “Life is made of moments — and I choose to live mine with elegance and truth.”
Several users praised Junior in the comments section. “Loving this new phase!!! 💎 Congratulations on having the courage to own your essence and BE. No matter where we came from or which path we traveled. What matters is who we become!!!” one user wrote, translated to English, while another message read, “Loving this new phase of yours 👏👏👏 self knowledge is powerful!” A third added, translated to English, “Wonderful ❤️.”
