Today João Baiao is an almost consensual figure on Portuguese television A mirror of this are the multiple honors he received at the celebration of his 60th birthday, an occasion that ended up being The broadcaster himself chose him to launch his memoirs, “The Other Side of Joy.”

At work, he recalls the times of the Big Show SIC program on Channel 3, which he led between 1995 and 2000 and led him to stardom. And how he ended up being harshly criticized and even accused of drug useBecause of his inexhaustible energy in the air.

“It was a new experience. I felt like I was doing something for myself, something I had never done as a professional. I felt like there was something, a break with the stereotype in TV shows,” João Baiao told Nova Gente.

“My work took on another dimension. Of course, it wasn’t just roses, applause, favors, benefits, pats on the back and praise, but the opposite happened as well. I was destroyed, and I ruled. They called me the most extraordinary thing in the evil world, without shame“, added the current host of SIC’s morning format, “Casa Feliz”, alongside Diana Chaves.

“They made up that I was a drug user because they didn’t understand my energy level. This is the way I am. I’ve always been like this and have never done drugs. I don’t drink alcohol and I didn’t drink alcohol then, that’s not an option today. “People were shocked by my energy and felt the need to criticize me in a very violent way.”

“To them, I was a drug addict, I was doing heavy drugs, and every hypothesis was proposed. Or rather, what is desired and what is undesirable has been invented. Whatever can justify a person having energy,” the caller concluded.