Brazilian fashion influencer Junior Dutra dies at age 31 after alleged ‘fox eyes’ procedure complications

Brazilian influencer Adair Mendes Dutra Junior has tragically died at age 31.

The fashion influencer – known as Junior Dutra on Instagram – passed on October 3, a month after claiming to have suffered complications from a ‘fox eyes’ surgery that prompted him to seek medical treatment at a hospital. 

Junior’s friend Gean Souza confirmed his passing with the Brazilian magazine Quem, alleging his complications developed into an infection, according to People.

In an interview conducted in Portuguese, Souza alleged his friend ‘became ill, felt very short of breath, and was taken to the nearest emergency room at a public hospital’ on October 3 before dying.

‘He had been having infectious reactions and feeling discomfort since the procedure,’ Souza said. ‘Last Friday, the problem worsened.’

Dutra claimed in a September interview with Feed TV that he had gotten an infection after undergoing the procedure by Dr. Fernando Garbi back in March. 

He claimed he developed an infection after the procedure that led him to seek help at a hospital, according to People. In a statement via his lawyer, Garbi denied the allegations, calling them ‘false’. 

Junior’s interview contained content of what appeared to be bruises and swelling on his face, People notes. They also report Junior said he was being looked after by a dermatologist at the time.

The Daily Mail has contacted Garbi and his lawyer Marcelo Cheli for comment but have not yet heard back. 

The fox eye surgery, which lifts the outer corners of the eyes to create a sharper, feline shape, has gained traction globally among celebrities and influencers. 

Prior to his passing, Junior filed a request for investigation against the doctor with 15th Police District of São Paulo, according to LeoDias portral, which has seen the legal documents. 

People reports that the late stylist was suing the doctor on six allegations, including illegal practice of medicine, serious bodily injury, and fraudulent misrepresentation.

Garbi’s lawyer denied the allegations made against the doctor in a statement, calling them ‘false’.

Per People, the statement says that Garbi has no ‘connection’ with Dutra’s death.

The denial, uploaded to Garbi’s Instagram, said that the allegations leveled against the doctor were being made ‘by people eager for brief moments of notoriety.’

‘All legal measures, in the civil and criminal spheres, will be taken against the authors of the insults and slander, so that they respond, to the exact extent of their responsibilities, for the injuries perpetrated against Doctor Fernando,’ the statement concludes, according to People. 

People reports that Garbi – whose website states he’s a maxillofacial surgeon, a facial and cosmetic surgeon, and facial and esthetic harmonization specialist – also denied any links between the ‘fox eyes’ procedure and alleged infection in an interview with Portal Leo Dias. 

‘We still don’t have the medical records with the cause of death,’ Junior’s friend Souza told Quem.

‘He was a very dear person. He still had many dreams to fulfill, he wanted to be closer to his family, to go abroad. What we want now is justice,’ Souza said. 

Dutra has 123,000 followers on Instagram and loves posting stylish snaps of his glamorous lifestyle.

According to his social media, he was based in São Paulo, Brazil and worked as a fashion stylist. 

His last post appeared to be his fashion styling come to life, with a model clad in a bold red look.

‘Because attitude can also be worn — and today it comes in red,’ he captioned the post.