Arthur do Val, a Brazilian politician and former São Paulo state deputy, recorded the audio in March 2022 while visiting Ukraine during the early weeks of the war there. In leaked voice messages sent to friends, he commented admiringly on Ukrainian women, using the Portuguese phrase só deusa, cara. The recordings were shared widely on social media and news outlets in Brazil, prompting public criticism and his resignation from office. The phrase quickly became a meme, quoted in jokes, reaction videos and political commentary, and it remains recognisable in Brazil as shorthand for the scandal.