“Personal Investigation”: Hilarious Meme Frenzy After Evangelical Pastor Caught Cross-Dressing

A Brazilian evangelical pastor identified as Pastor Eduardo Costa has found himself at the center of a life-destroying controversy after being filmed walking near a bar in Goiânia wearing nothing but a white shirt, a blue thong, and a blonde wig.

The footage, shared across social media earlier this week, immediately turned Costa into a living meme, with locals going from mocking his outfit to calling him a symbol of evangelical hypocrisy.

Now, Costa has broken his silence alongside his wife, missionary Valquíria Costa, claiming he was “conducting a personal investigation.”

But the internet isn’t buying it.

A Brazilian pastor was caught on video walking the streets at night while dressed as a woman

Close-up of a man believed to be a pastor involved in a thong and wig incident, sparking memes and online reactions.

Image credits: Instagram / eduardo.costa.752487

The first video, reportedly recorded over the weekend, shows a man in women’s underwear and a wig walking casually through a parking lot next to a bar in the Urias Magalhães neighborhood of Goiânia. 

The clip was sent anonymously to a popular local page and quickly exploded online.

Man in a blue suit standing outdoors, appearing sincere, related to pastor caught walking around in thong and wig news.

Image credits: Youtube / bispoeduardocosta1154

It didn’t take long for netizens to find out the identity of the person in the video: Eduardo Costa, a self-described religious leader, gospel singer, and event officiant famous in evangelical circles.

Pastor wearing a wig and thong, claiming to be undercover, stirring reactions and memes in an outdoor nighttime setting.

Image credits: Instagram / goianiamilgraus

Despite maintaining a modest online following of around 1,600 people on his private Instagram account, Costa is well-known for being the creator of a gospel song titled Barrabás, which has garnered over 56,000 views on YouTube.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Cleitin Mil Graus (@goianiamilgraus)

As the nighttime footage grew in popularity, so did the rumors surrounding Costa. Several netizens claiming to personally know the pastor came forward to say this was far from the first time.

In fact, cross-dressing had become a habit for him.

Person wearing a thong and wig standing outdoors at night, related to pastor caught undercover meme controversy.

Image credits: Instagram / goianiamilgraus

Local netizens claimed he had been caught multiple times “loitering outside bars” dressed as a woman.

One commenter then dropped a bombshell accusation, claiming that Costa’s peculiar habit was precisely the reason for his previous marriage falling apart, as his former wife had allegedly spotted him “in a little red dress,” looking for intimate encounters near local motels.

Costa claimed he was conducting a “personal investigation,” and that he was filmed by someone who later tried to extort him

Animated character in a wig and red outfit, referencing a pastor caught walking around in thong and wig memes.

Image credits: X / flaviojbs

With his silence doing nothing but making the rumors grow, Costa decided to come forward and offer an explanation. 

Posting a video on Instagram alongside his current wife, he not only confirmed that he was indeed the man in the footage but described the controversy as a massive misunderstanding.

Man wearing thong and wig, standing outdoors at night, linked to pastor caught undercover and sparking memes.

Image credits: X / marianavieira_9

Instagram profile of Pastor Eduardo Costa with 1,670 followers and a private account discussing faith and miracles.

Image credits: Instagram / eduardo.costa.752487

“This is Bishop Eduardo Costa and my wife, Valquíria Costa. We are here to share our version of the events that are taking place,” he began.

Middle-aged man with glasses and a woman behind him appearing serious, linked to pastor caught in thong and wig memes.

Image credits: X / AndradeRNegro2

“Last night, I went to conduct a personal investigation of my own, and in the wrong way, I ended up putting on a wig and shorts,” Costa said, claiming the shorts were mistaken for a thong.

“I really did dress in an inappropriate manner, in an attempt to locate an address I needed in order to serve a summons.”

GENTE? Pastor evangélico que foi flagrado de calcinha e peruca durante a noite alega que estava “fazendo uma investigação”. pic.twitter.com/kXdp8DeYQk

— POPTime (@siteptbr) August 12, 2025

Costa then alleged someone secretly filmed him while hiding in the dark and later attempted to extort him. 

According to the pastor, the person gave him until noon the next day to make a payment, or the footage would be released. He said the same individual even tried to contact his wife to demand money.

“We decided not to give in to the extortion attempt.”

Local outlets and netizens claimed this was far from the first time the pastor had cross-dressed

Woman with a serious expression reacting to pastor caught walking around in thong and wig, sparking memes online.

Image credits: X / portaldofato

Costa’s explanation was, to put it bluntly, massively ridiculed. Netizens at large didn’t buy his version of events. Moreover, many expressed worry for his wife, who was seen in the video visibly scared and confused.

Smiling man and woman taking a close-up selfie, unrelated to pastor caught walking around in thong and wig.

Image credits: Youtube / bispoeduardocosta1154

“I had already told my wife I was conducting this investigation. She just didn’t know some details, such as the way I had gone about it,” he said in the video, before turning to Valquíria. “Right, my love?”

Black and white image showing a person in a thong and wig standing near a car and a tree on a street at night.

Image credits: Metropoles

Making things worse, local outlets claimed to have received a second video of the pastor walking on the streets dressed as a woman.

This time, however, he was spotted practically bare, wearing only a thong and a wig.

⏯️ Novo vídeo mostra detalhes da ação do pastor de calcinha

Novo flagra mostra o pastor Eduardo Costa de calcinha e peruca dias antes do vídeo que viralizou e revela visual diferente e novos detalhes

Leia: https://t.co/7Y7LJBRUSQpic.twitter.com/YFt5oLZVDn

— Metrópoles (@Metropoles) August 13, 2025

Person wearing thong and wig standing near a car at night, related to pastor caught undercover and viral memes.

Image credits: Metropoles

While many online condemned the act of extortion and the ethics of filming someone without their consent, they nevertheless argued that Costa was doing serious damage not only to his personal life and loved ones, but to the very faith he claimed to represent.

Smiling pastor in a blue suit and tie, pictured outdoors with blurred greenery in the background.

Image credits: Youtube / bispoeduardocosta1154

The legal implications of the controversy for both Costa and the person who filmed him remain unclear. He has not confirmed whether he has filed a complaint regarding the alleged extortion attempt.

Couple smiling at an outdoor event with festive lights in the background under soft purple lighting.

Image credits: Instagram / eduardo.costa.752487

For now, the Brazilian public has been left with more questions than answers, and the image of a self-proclaimed man of God caught in one of the strangest “undercover missions” ever recorded.

“Hypocrite.” The pastor’s explanation did little to repair his public image

Pastor caught walking around in thong and wig, claiming to be undercover, causing viral memes and humorous reactions online.

Comment by Driggo Ferrera saying Quite an investigation, huh Pastor? in black and blue text on a white background.

Screenshot of a social media post with text joking about a blonde in panties and a protruding belly on the street.

Comment discussing a pastor's past incident involving a thong and wig, mentioning his current family and pastoral role.

Comment on social media post questioning if person is a police investigation officer, related to pastor caught in thong and wig situation.

Pastor caught walking in thong and wig, explaining he was undercover, sparking viral memes and social media reactions.

Man resembling pastor wearing a thong and wig, claiming to be undercover, causing a buzz on social media with memes.

Comment by user lucikatia doubting the truth of a viral pastor caught walking in thong and wig story.

Comment by user natycalaca discussing a video about a pastor caught walking around in thong and wig.

Text message on a white screen reading did you need all that just to find an address, related to pastor caught walking around in thong and wig memes.

Screenshot of a social media post with text about a pastor caught walking around in thong and wig, causing a buzz online.

Social media post reacting to pastor caught walking around in thong and wig, sparking viral memes and online discussion.

Text post reading behind every conservative man, there is always another man, highlighting memes about pastor caught in thong and wig.

Text post from Instagram by user rafaeloliveira_ofc saying he could have dressed up as Zorro, Spider-Man, or a beggar, relating to pastor caught walking around in thong and wig.

Text post on social media about a pastor caught walking around in thong and wig, sparking memes and online reactions.

Screenshot of a social media post humorously captioned He-Man after he got old, related to pastor caught in thong and wig memes.

Man dressed in a thong and wig claims to be undercover, sparking memes and viral reactions online.

Comment on a post about a pastor caught walking around in thong and wig, expressing sympathy for his wife.

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