Kelly Slater rightfully condemned a Brazilian pro surfer for savagely punching a woman who dropped in on him in Uluwatu. Now the two have been filmed on a wave together – so why is he still in Bali?

A Brazilian pro surfer who was knocked down by Kelly Slater after brutally beating a woman in Indonesia has shared footage of himself surfing alongside the 11-time world champion – just months after the sickening attack.

João Paulo ‘JP’ Azevedo sparked global outrage after a viral Instagram video showed him brutally hitting American woman Sara Taylor several times in the head while they were surfing at Bali’s famous surfing spot Uluwatu in April.

The horrific incident sparked calls for him to be deported, as big names in the surfing community – including Felicity Palmateer and Filipe Toledo – rallied to support Ms Taylor and condemn his ‘disgusting’ behaviour.

Slater led the call for Azevedo to be expelled from the country, also addressing the video’s comments asking his friends living in Bali to help send the Brazilian “home where he belongs.”

But despite the online clash — and Slater’s public disgust at Azevedo’s actions — the pair were filmed together at Padang Padang Beach, in southern Bali, earlier this month.

Footage posted to Azevedo’s YouTube channel on Aug. 4 shows the pair sharing a wave, standing just meters apart as they pass under a barrel.

In the caption, Azevedo said it was a “dream” to finally surf with his childhood idol.

“Surfing with the GOAT (the best of all time) Kelly Slater in Bali, Indonesia is a dream session,” he wrote.

“The paradise of perfect waves with Kelly Slater is a dream come true because I watched movies since I was a kid and Slater always inspired me and my friends and everyone in the surfing world.”

“(He was) always about winning the WSL world competitions and raising everyone’s level, both athletes and competitors in general.”

It remains unclear if Slater and Azevedo have since made peace or if the surfing legend even knew he was sharing a wave with the Brazilian.

The most likely scenario is that Slater was unaware that he was surfing with the man he called months earlier to be deported from Indonesia.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Azevedo and Slater for comment.

Ms Taylor was surfing in Uluwatu, southern Bali, on April 5 when she caught a wave at the same time as Brazilian Adriano Portela, a friend of Azevedo’s.

Both believed they had the right of way, but a brief skirmish broke out as the pair ran into each other as they stepped onto their boards before Portela jumped and left the wave to Mrs. Taylor.

But enraged on behalf of Portela, Azevedo decided to take matters into his own hands, with footage showing him paddling up to Ms Taylor and hitting her on the back of the head.

Mrs. Taylor swam back to shore, but as she and her British friend Charlie McHarg prepared to leave the beach, Azevedo, Portela and their retinue continued their attack.

A second video shows Azevedo appearing to throw his fist in Ms. Taylor’s face before a group of eight men surround the women, shoving them and destroying their belongings.

Bali police confirmed at the time that the women, who both suffered bruises, had reported the matter to South Kuta Police and the matter was under investigation.

However, despite calls for his deportation, Azevedo has remained in Indonesia and started vlogging his surfing adventures.

In the past three months, he has shared about 30 videos on YouTube under the name @Ironsurf of him and his friends surfing on the beaches of Bali.

Now Mrs. Taylor’s friends claim that Azevedo has been released free and they want justice.

‘He was not deported. Not even arrested,” Mrs. McHarg said.

Bali police said the video was not enough evidence to charge him. A real show.’

Although he has not competed in the World Surf League, Azevedo is a star surfer in Brazil. He has won titles in the national Espírito Santo league in the Novice, Kids, Junior and Professional divisions.

He was invited to Indonesia in 2019 to make a surf documentary and despite the shooting being postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, he fell in love with the area and moved permanently.

In the aftermath of the attack, Azevedo was abruptly dropped by his sponsor Quebra Onda, who said in a statement that the company “rejects all forms of violence, especially against women.”

As the video began circulating online, Azevedo spoke out to Brazilian media Globo, claiming he hit Ms. Taylor because, “I didn’t know she was a woman. She surfed like a man, dressed like a man.’

In a later video on YouTube, Azevedo said he was “deeply sorry and ashamed” of what happened, but claimed he was the real victim.

“I saw a surfer push my friend and went to ask why (they did it) and got punched in the face and then I retaliated,” he claimed.

Then I realized it was a woman. Then I went out to sea to apologize.

“They took my board in the car. I went to get my board back to defend myself against attacks… And in between attacks I also attacked.’

Portela also responded by releasing a statement apologizing to the women, admitting he was “disgusted” and “embarrassed” for losing his temper and speaking disrespectfully to the couple.

He said the video didn’t show everything that happened, but there was no excuse for the way he spoke to the women, and that he had reached out to them to make amends.

The vicious attack drew widespread condemnation as surfers around the world showed their support for Ms. Taylor and Ms. McHarg.

“This is so disgusting and actually terrifying,” wrote Australian surfer Felicity Palmateer.

‘I hope you’re well. Make sure these boys are deported as soon as possible!’

Brazilian professional surfer Filipe Toledo apologized and sent his well wishes to Ms. Taylor and Ms. McHarg.

“I’m sorry this happened to you!” Toledo said.

‘I hope you’re doing well! Don’t stress people with this kind of energy! They don’t last long, life comes back!’