A young porn star at a beer festival leaves Monserrato divided. While the debate heats up on social media, Mayor Tomaso Locci doesn't back down an inch, chiming in: "Martina Smeraldi is a young Sardinian, from Cagliari, and successful. Why censor her? I'll be on stage too. Enough hypocrisy."
The event under scrutiny is the Beer Fest, scheduled for July 31st at Comparto 8 , between Via dell'Aeronautica and Via Riu Mortu. Among the beer, music, and guests, the presence of Martina Smeraldi, 25, from Cagliari and winner of the so-called "Porn Oscar," is causing controversy.
Its participation was announced within the summer calendar sponsored by the Municipality, and for many citizens it is "the lowest point ever reached by a municipal administration."
But the mayor responds bluntly : "I remind everyone that our department covers not only culture but also entertainment. We sponsored the event organized by Ichnusa, and Martina Smeraldi will not be paid by the city. It's part of a much broader program that includes Sandro Murru and the Queen Tribute."
Locci emphasizes that the party is entirely organized by Heineken, the same company that brought Fabrizio Corona to Sestu last week : "The organizers asked me if they would appreciate the presence of a successful young actress who, in her field, represents Cagliari and Sardinia. Since it's a light-hearted evening, exclusively for entertainment, I immediately said yes: it's the perfect opportunity to publicize and promote our events area, our spaces, and bring lots of people to Monserrato."
Then the attack : "Like it or not, Martina Smeraldi has received an award, an international recognition. She is a young Sardinian who brings prestige to Sardinia in her field: why censor her?"
But the mayor goes further and calls out those he calls "false moralists" : "Martina Smeraldi is a public figure, she may or may not be liked, but I don't understand all these prejudices. I wonder: if Rocco Siffredi had arrived, would there have been the same reaction? And why didn't Fabrizio Corona's presence in Sestu for the same event cause the same outcry?"
And again: "Unfortunately, many people confuse pornography with prostitution, and they're wrong. This isn't the case. However, I can say that I've seen people in politics prostitute themselves—politically speaking—for a seat or for a so-called bonus. I think it's much worse than all this fuss over a simple evening meant for entertainment that will liven up our town."
The mayor's conclusion is an open invitation : "That's why I accept the invitation, I'll go on stage and invite everyone to participate in the Monserrato event. It's just a show; there's no point in mounting moral crusades."
On the other hand, Andrea Zucca, minority councilor of the "Pauli Monserrato-La Svolta" group, rejects the accusations : "The problem isn't the person who was invited, but that the mayor is reviving the resulting controversy, turning it into politics and his opponents with inelegant references. If citizens are criticizing him for an unwelcome choice, it's unclear what the political world is referring to, which has nothing to do with the planned event."
