Old video of Miami woman smashing $5K Romero Britto statue resurfaces [VIDEO]
Why a 2017 Gallery Meltdown Involving Romero Britto is Trending Again
A video of a Miami restaurateur dramatically smashing a $5,000 Romero Britto sculpture in his gallery has resurfaced and gone viral once again. However, eight years after the original incident occurred.
Many recent posts frame the moment as breaking news. However, the clip actually dates back to August 2017. It shows Madelyne Sanchez, then-owner of Tapelia, a Spanish tapas restaurant on Washington Avenue, confronting the renowned Brazilian pop artist Romero Britto at his gallery on Lincoln Road in Miami Beach.
Why the Statue Was Smashed
According to multiple sources, Sanchez was responding to Britto’s alleged rude behavior toward her staff during a previous visit to her restaurant. Reports from the time claim Britto reserved a large table, arrived alone, demanded the music be turned off because it “disturbed” him, and told staff not to look at him. As a result, causing at least one employee to cry.
Weeks later, Sanchez showed up at Britto’s gallery event with a porcelain sculpture from his collection titled “Big Apple.” It was valued between $4,800 and $5,000. In front of shocked fans and clients, she slammed it to the floor. After that, she shouted in Portuguese:
“Never go to my restaurant and disrespect an employee. Never.”
The artist appeared stunned. However, he did not physically react.
The Incident First Went Viral in 2020
Actually, the dramatic moment took place in 2017. However, the footage didn’t go viral until August 2020, when it hit TikTok and Reddit, gaining millions of views. Many online users praised Sanchez as a hero for standing up for her team. Meanwhile, others criticized her for being wasteful and making a public scene.
Romero Britto later responded, stating that the internet was being unfair and urging people to treat each other with “dignity and respect.”
No legal action was ever reported, and Britto continued to operate his gallery and exhibit his work globally.
Trending Again in 2025
In July 2025, the clip resurfaced on X (formerly Twitter) after being reposted by multiple accounts, including one that framed it as a brand-new incident. One viral tweet featuring the clip racked up over 2.8 million views in a matter of days.
Despite the misleading framing, most users were quick to praise Sanchez all over again. Therefore, calling her a “legend” and commending her for defending her employees. Others resurfaced the debate about whether smashing an expensive artwork—despite owning it—was the right move.
Some viewers criticized Britto, referencing previous debates over whether his work leaned more toward commercial kitsch than fine art. Others felt he had been unfairly targeted without enough context.
A Deeper Message About Respect and Power
The stunt was undeniably dramatic. However, it resonated deeply with people who work in or care about the service industry. Sanchez’s decision to defend her team in such a public way tapped into broader frustrations about how service workers are treated, especially by those in positions of wealth or fame.
Experts have noted that incidents like these reflect changing societal norms around power dynamics and accountability. Studies show that disrespect from customers can severely affect worker morale, and viral moments like this one help highlight those realities.
What Happened After?
Madelyne Sanchez’s restaurant, Tapelia, later closed sometime between 2020 and 2021. However, there’s no direct connection to the Britto incident. She has largely stayed out of the public eye since.
Romero Britto continues to run his art business successfully. Additionally, he has fans around the world and partnerships that span everything from murals to merchandise. The 2017 incident does not appear to have caused any lasting damage to his career.
Misinformation or a Message?
The renewed interest in this eight-year-old clip is also a reminder of how old content can resurface and spread as if new, especially in an era where feel-good “justice” stories and viral outrage perform well on social media.
Still, for many viewers, the message behind the act remains the same: standing up for your team is always on time.
Impact on Local Culture and Business Owners
In the years following the confrontation, Sanchez became somewhat of a local folk hero, especially among restaurant and hospitality workers in Miami. Her bold public act—smashing expensive art to stand up for her staff—was interpreted as a symbolic reversal of the usual power dynamic between wealthy patrons and the service industry.
For small business owners, the video served as a reminder that defending your team resonates deeply with the public, especially in industries where workers are often overworked, underpaid, and expected to “smile through” mistreatment. Multiple hospitality groups referenced the incident during 2020 discussions around better treatment of restaurant employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s when tensions between guests and workers intensified.
A Flashpoint in Cancel Culture Conversations
When the video first exploded in 2020 and again in 2025, it inevitably entered conversations around cancel culture. Was this woman a hero for defending her team, or did she overstep? Was Britto treated unfairly by the internet, or was this accountability in action?
Online debates often drew comparisons to other high-profile confrontations between everyday people and celebrities. While some saw Sanchez’s act as performative or excessive, others saw it as one of the most memorable “speaking truth to power” moments caught on camera in recent memory.
Still, Sanchez never granted any high-profile interviews after the clip went viral. Aside from brief local coverage and a few Spanish-language news segments, she largely stayed silent—further fueling the public’s mystique around her.
A Moment That Still Echoes
Even years later, the video of Madelyne Sanchez smashing a Romero Britto sculpture remains one of the most vivid examples of a business owner standing up for her employees in a high-stakes, high-visibility setting.
While her restaurant, Tapelia, has since closed, her legacy continues to ripple through online discourse. The debate over whether her actions were reckless or righteous may never fully settle, but the impact is undeniable.
As the internet continues to blur the lines between past and present, one thing is clear: acts of courage—real or symbolic—resonate far beyond their moment. And in a world where hospitality workers still face daily challenges, Sanchez’s message rings louder than ever.