Oscar Maroni

Oscar Maroni Filho
Maroni in 2018
Born(1951-01-27)January 27, 1951
Jundiaí, [São Paulo, Brazil
DiedDecember 31, 2025(2025-12-31) (aged 74)
São Paulo, Brazil
OccupationsBusinessman, psychologist
Years active1980s–2020s
Known forOwner of the Bahamas Night Club
Adult entertainment industry
Political partyLabour Party of Brazil (PTdoB) (2008)
Republican Party of the Social Order (PROS) (2018)
SpouseMarisa Vaccari (separated)
Children4 (including Aritana Maroni)

Oscar Maroni Filho (January 27, 1951 – December 31, 2025) was a Brazilian businessman who operated in the adult entertainment industry.[1] He was best known as the owner of the Bahamas Night Club in the city of São Paulo, and various public controversies.[2] He worked in adult entertainment, livestock farming, and hospitality.[3] He was publisher of the Brazilian editions of Penthouse and Hustler magazines.[4]

Biography

Early years and education

The son of Oscar Milano Maroni and Maria de Lourdes Costabile, both of Italian origin, Oscar Maroni was born in the city of Jundiaí, in the interior of the state of São Paulo.[5] Before becoming an entrepreneur in the adult entertainment industry in São Paulo, he graduated with a degree in psychology and ran his own practice for five years.[6] He began his professional life with a snack trailer.[7] He studied in the afternoons and took turns with his girlfriend Marisa Vaccari, whom he met in college and would later marry.[8][9]

Public life

In 2007, Maroni was arrested on charges of exploitation of prostitution, criminal conspiracy, and human trafficking. He was detained between August and October of that year, for fifty days, but was granted habeas corpus and responded to the charges while free.[4][10]

Affiliated with the Labour Party of Brazil (PTdoB), in 2008, he ran for city councilor in São Paulo in a controversial campaign aimed at provoking then-mayor Gilberto Kassab, after a series of public disagreements with Kassab, especially after TAM Airlines Flight 3054.[11][12]

In 2011, Maroni was sentenced in the first instance to 11 years and 8 months in prison for the crimes of promoting prostitution and maintaining a place for sexual encounters, but he did not serve his sentence.[13][14] Subsequently, in 2013, he was acquitted by the Court of Justice of São Paulo (TJSP) and by the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) in 2017, with the court ruling that Bahamas did not constitute a brothel (despite the presence of sex workers).[15][16][17]

On September 14, 2014, he joined the seventh season of the reality show A Fazenda, broadcast by Rede Record.[18] On October 2, 2014, he was the first contestant to be eliminated from the program.[19][20]

In 2017, he was the central character in O Colecionador de Emoções (The Collector of Emotions), recounting his career and criticizing the São Paulo City Hall, written by journalist Leonardo Castello Branco.[12][21] The following year, in celebration of the arrest of former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of the Workers' Party (PT), dressed as a beagle boys, Maroni promoted the distribution of more than 9,000 cans of Brahma beer for free in front of his adult entertainment club.[22][23][24]

After his unsuccessful attempt to become a city councilor in São Paulo, Maroni went so far as to say in interviews that he would like to be president of Brazil.[21] Despite his desire, he chose to support the far-right candidacy of Jair Bolsonaro for the presidency of Brazil in the 2018 election.[25][26] In the same year, he ran for federal deputy for São Paulo for the Republican Party of the Social Order (PROS), but was unsuccessful after receiving just over 6,000 votes.[27]

Electoral performance

Year Position Party Votes Result Ref.
2008 City Councilor of São Paulo PTdoB 5804 Not elected [28]
2018 Federal Deputy for São Paulo PROS 6361 Not elected [27]

Business activity

Bahamas Hotel Club

Maroni was the owner of the Bahamas Hotel Club, located at 571 Chanés Street in the Moema neighborhood of São Paulo.[29] The Bahamas offers a variety of entertainment options for adults.[30] Bahamas was shut down by the City Council in 2007, on the grounds that the establishment was not licensed and did not have an accessibility certificate or a security system maintenance certificate.[31]

The place has become part of the nightlife and prostitution scene in the city of São Paulo, having already welcomed celebrities such as boxer Mike Tyson.[32][33]

Oscar's Hotel

Maroni built the 11-story Oscar's Hotel, located at Rua dos Chanés No. 621, 600 meters from one end of the runway at São Paulo–Congonhas Airport.[34]

After the accident involving TAM Flight 3054, Gilberto Kassab, then mayor of São Paulo, revoked the hotel's approval and construction permit, claiming that the hotel posed a risk to aircraft and reduced the size of the runway.[35][36] Maroni protested during the hotel's closure, saying he was being used as a "scapegoat" and calling Kassab's measure "electioneering."[37] The Regional Air Command (COMAR), a territorial division of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) responsible for airspace management and operations, concluded that Oscar's Hotel met the required standards at the start of construction and that there was no reason to demolish the building.[38] The building has been sealed since the court order during Kassab's term.[39]

Personal life and death

Maroni was known for his outgoing and talkative nature.[2] Maroni often appeared in public with a pet in his arms: a Maltese dog named Docinho.[12][35]

He was the father of one daughter and three sons: Aritana, Aruã, Aratã, and Acauã. Their names were inspired by the soap opera Aritana, broadcast by Rede Tupi in 1978. "Aritana was a male character in the soap opera. But in the indigenous language, the name meant to be a warrior, to have power. I used it to name my first daughter," said Oscar Maroni.[40] His daughter, Aritana, is an administrator and chef, having participated in the second season of MasterChef, finishing in eighth place, and participated in A Fazenda 9, being the seventh contestant eliminated.[41][42]

Maroni died on December 31, 2025, in a nursing home in the city of São Paulo.[43][44] Maroni suffered from Alzheimer's disease in his later years, eventually developing dementia, but the cause of death was not disclosed.[43]

References

  1. ^ "Relembre as prisões e polêmicas que envolvem Oscar Maroni". Estadão (in Brazilian Portuguese). July 7, 2009. Retrieved January 2, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  2. ^ a b Bittencourt, Fábio (September 13, 1999). "Empresário do prazer". IstoÉ. Archived from the original on January 6, 2002. Retrieved January 6, 2002.
  3. ^ Castilho, Alceu (April 9, 2018). "Candidato ruralista à Câmara, Oscar Maroni arrenda fazenda polêmica, de R$ 55 milhões, para a Cosan". De Olho nos Ruralistas (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on November 6, 2025. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  4. ^ a b "Oscar Maroni foi preso duas vezes; filha famosa do empresário também foi detida". Caras (in Brazilian Portuguese). December 31, 2025. Archived from the original on January 2, 2026. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  5. ^ Assis, Evelyn (December 31, 2025). "Oscar Maroni, empresário jundiaiense e dono do Bahamas Hotel Club, morre em São Paulo aos 74 anos". Tribuna de Jundiaí (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on January 2, 2026. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  6. ^ Bourroul, Beatriz (December 31, 2025). "Morre Oscar Maroni, dono do Bahamas Club, aos 74 anos". Quem (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on January 2, 2026. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  7. ^ Veiga, Edison; Brisola, Fábio (September 18, 2009). "Oscar Maroni é acusado de formação de quadrilha e tráfico de mulheres". Veja São Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on July 27, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  8. ^ "Tesão Humanitário". Vice. July 5, 2009. Archived from the original on August 2, 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  9. ^ Dias, Leo (August 7, 2018). "A vida dos Maroni em reality | | O Dia". O Dia (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on April 20, 2025. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  10. ^ Sampaio, Paulo (October 3, 2007). "Após 50 dias, Oscar Maroni, o dono do Bahamas, deixa a prisão". Folha de S. Paulo. Archived from the original on January 2, 2026. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  11. ^ Futema, Fabiana (October 9, 2007). "De olho na prefeitura, dono do Bahamas se filia ao PT do B e defende bingos". Folha de S.Paulo. Retrieved January 2, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  12. ^ a b c "Oscar Maroni: dono do Bahamas sempre negou explorar a prostituição". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). January 1, 2026. Archived from the original on January 2, 2026. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  13. ^ "Justiça condena Oscar Maroni a mais de 11 anos de prisão". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). October 4, 2011. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  14. ^ "Dono da boate Bahamas é condenado por favorecimento à prostituição". Court of Justice of São Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). October 3, 2011. Archived from the original on January 2, 2026. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  15. ^ "TJSP absolve dono da boate Bahamas de crimes relacionados à prostituição". Court of Justice of São Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). April 9, 2013. Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  16. ^ Rover, Tadeu (October 9, 2017). "Turma do STJ absolve Oscar Maroni por manter casa de prostituição". Consultor Jurídico. Archived from the original on April 16, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  17. ^ "STJ confirma absolvição do empresário Oscar Maroni FIlho". Migalhas (in Brazilian Portuguese). October 9, 2017. Archived from the original on December 10, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  18. ^ Vivaqua, Arthur (August 25, 2010). "Oscar Maroni, o "empresário do sexo", estará em "A Fazenda 7"". RD1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). iG. Archived from the original on October 17, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  19. ^ ""A Fazenda": Oscar Maroni é o primeiro eliminado do reality da Record". iG Gente (in Brazilian Portuguese). iG. October 3, 2014. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  20. ^ "Ficou pelado e saiu na 1ª roça: a passagem de Oscar Maroni em A Fazenda". Universo Online (in Brazilian Portuguese). December 31, 2025. Archived from the original on January 2, 2026. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  21. ^ a b Izquierdo, Tatiana (May 29, 2017). ""Quero ser presidente", diz dono do Bahamas Club". Veja (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on May 6, 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  22. ^ Finotti, Ivan (April 6, 2018). "Vestido de irmão Metralha, Maroni distribui 9.000 cervejas para festejar prisão de Lula". Folha de S.Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on December 7, 2025. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  23. ^ Dearo, Guilherme (April 6, 2018). "Oscar Maroni garante promessa de cerveja grátis se Lula for preso". Exame (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on November 22, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  24. ^ Lula Condenado (Television production) (in Brazilian Portuguese). Folha de S.Paulo. January 26, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2026 – via YouTube.
  25. ^ "Morre o empresário Oscar Maroni, dono da boate Bahamas". CartaCapital (in Brazilian Portuguese). December 31, 2025. Archived from the original on January 2, 2026. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  26. ^ "Oscar Maroni é ovacionado ao falar contra "comunistas" em ato em SP". Valor Econômico (in Brazilian Portuguese). May 26, 2019. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  27. ^ a b "Resultado das Eleições 2018: São Paulo". Gazeta do Povo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on January 15, 2025. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  28. ^ "Especial - 2008 - Eleições". Folha de S. Paulo. Archived from the original on June 27, 2025. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  29. ^ Cavalcanti, Tatiana (September 21, 2013). "De volta, boate Bahamas cobra R$ 200". Agora São Paulo. Archived from the original on January 2, 2026. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  30. ^ Camargo, Cristina (March 18, 2021). "Força-tarefa contra aglomeração fecha casa noturna Bahamas e encerra festa em tabacaria de SP". Folha de S.Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on December 4, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  31. ^ Domingos, Roney (August 3, 2007). "Bahamas é interditado com distribuição de pizzas". G1. Archived from the original on December 10, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  32. ^ "Como é e quanto custa o Bahamas, a boate de Oscar Maroni". Paradise Girl - Acompanhantes de Luxo e Garotas de Programa. June 18, 2020. Archived from the original on March 31, 2025. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  33. ^ Finotti, Ivan (December 31, 2025). "Como foi a festa de 30 anos do Bahamas Club, boate de Oscar Maroni, morto nesta quarta (31)". Folha de S. Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on June 13, 2025. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  34. ^ "Hotel do dono do Bahamas é fechado pela terceira vez". G1. September 14, 2007. Archived from the original on January 2, 2026. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  35. ^ a b Magalhães, Vagner (June 8, 2008). "Desafeto de Kassab, Maroni pode integrar coligação". Terra. Archived from the original on June 12, 2008. Retrieved June 12, 2008.
  36. ^ "Dono da boate Bahamas, Oscar Maroni volta a ser preso em São Paulo". Folha de S.Paulo. July 15, 2009. Archived from the original on July 27, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  37. ^ Domingos, Roney (July 26, 2007). "Dono do Bahamas provoca Kassab durante interdição de hotel". G1. Archived from the original on October 9, 2008. Retrieved October 9, 2008.
  38. ^ "Justiça manda demolir parte de hotel de dono do Bahamas em SP". Universo Online. March 9, 2009. Archived from the original on January 2, 2017. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  39. ^ Ferraz, Adriana (July 9, 2011). "Hotel lacrado após acidente da TAM é vendido". Agora São Paulo. Archived from the original on January 2, 2026. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  40. ^ Izquierdo, Tatiana (August 6, 2015). "Aritana: "Meu pai sempre cobrou muito e isso me fez mais forte"". Veja São Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on December 10, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  41. ^ "Aritana Maroni: Ex-Masterchef presa por tráfico cresceu em clube adulto". Universo Online (in Brazilian Portuguese). March 4, 2025. Archived from the original on March 12, 2025. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  42. ^ Ribeiro, Leonardo (December 31, 2025). "Família de Oscar Maroni lamenta morte do empresário e mostra fotos raras: 'Fez história e partiu'". Extra (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on January 2, 2026. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  43. ^ a b Caniato, Bruno (December 31, 2025). "Oscar Maroni, dono do Bahamas Club, morre aos 74 anos em São Paulo". Veja (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on January 2, 2026. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  44. ^ Colafemina, Martina (November 9, 2024). "Oscar Maroni, fundador do Bahamas, tem Alzheimer e está em casa de repouso". Universo Online (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on April 7, 2025. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
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