In 1996 Michael Jackson filmed his music video "They Don't Care About Us" in the Santa Marta favela. Spike Lee was the director. Initially, Rio de Janeiro's government tried to block the production, as they were worried about the depiction of poverty in the slums. However, the local community warmly welcomed the opportunity. In 2010, a year after Michael Jackson's death, a statue was built in his honor.

February 2015.