>>> Rio is a heavily crime-laden city...worse than Chicago, no doubt. Had to be something else besides a concern for safety. <<<<
True from what I’ve been told about Rio.
A friend was chased across a busy beachfront road in downtown Rio by an armed mugger brandishing his pistol.
He got away unharmed, but he and some other well-traveled folks I know have called it the most dangerous city they’ve visited.
This put a major hole in the media’s - Barry is loved by the international community! The world hears the same reports and it was their opportunity to correct it. First round knockout!