2020–present: Doce 22 and Escândalo Íntimo

In June 2020, Sonza gave a performance in the online version of the NYC Pride March.^[31][32]

In June 2021, Sonza announced a career break after attacks received on social media.^[33] Next month, she returned to the networks to announce the release of her second studio album, Doce 22, which was released on July 18, the day she turned 23. The songs "VIP" and "Melhor Sozinha" were released as singles on the same day. The track "Também Não Sei de Nada", featuring Lulu Santos, was made available as a single at the time of the album's release.^[34] To promote the album, the artist appeared on the program Prazer, Luísa, aired on Multishow in five episodes from July 7, 2021.^[35] In May 2022, it was announced that Sonza had signed a recording contract with Sony Music Brazil, valued at US$ 20 million (about R$ 100 million at the time), with the aim of investing in an international career.^[36]

In a press conference, held on July 18, 2022, Sonza announced the production of her third studio album, which will address a more mature and sober version of her life, for the year 2023.^[37] On April 11, Netflix Brazil announced the recording of a documentary series, with Sonza, which will present her trajectory and personal life along with the background of her new project.^[38][39] On August 9, the singer's social networks confirmed the release of her new album, entitled Escândalo Íntimo, for the 29th of the same month.^[40]

Views on women's empowerment and toxic masculinity

Sonza received criticism alleging she had married for money and responded by saying she made as much money as her former husband Whindersson Nunes did. She once thought being a victim of machismo was a woman's fault, but realised no matter what she did, she would be a victim anyway. 'I had two options: either understand a sick social structure, or become sick myself'; 'They're using the structure to talk about women, to place them in an undeserving position, of being less smart, and incomplete without a man—just like they did to my mum, my grandma, my aunt', she said. She holds no hard feelings towards trolls harassing her online. 'Before deconstructing other people, I have to deconstruct myself'. As to marriage, Sonza states: 'It is not women's duty to do anything, or be anything. It is not our duty to be a mother, or get married. Unless you want to, I'm against women letting go of their dreams to fulfil someone else's dreams.'^[48]

In September 2020, after protests by Anitta and Sonza, Oxford Languages decided to reassess the definitions of Portuguese words patroa ('owner' or 'boss', in the feminine gender), professora ('teacher', in the feminine gender) and mulher solteira ('single woman') appearing in Google's definitional search, which until then were related to misogynistic definitions such as 'housewife' (patroa) and 'prostitute' (professora and mulher solteira). Both Google and Oxford Languages issued press releases stating that they would either revise the definitions or remove the item if it 'no longer reflected the modern usage of Portuguese language by Brazilian speakers.'^[49][50]

Racism case

In 2018, Luísa was accused of racism by a black lawyer, who filed a lawsuit for moral damages in court against the singer.^[51][52]

The case would have happened on September 22, 2018. It appears in the case file that Isabel Macedo, a black woman, was celebrating her birthday at an inn in Fernando de Noronha, a place that also hosted a gastronomy festival. At the same time, Luísa Sonza was giving a presentation there. While heading to the bathroom, Isabel passed by Luísa Sonza, at which point the singer would have slapped Isabel on the arm and ordered her to bring her a glass of water, thinking that the lawyer was a waitress at the inn. Not understanding the reason for the approach, Isabel asked the singer to repeat it, at which point Luísa, "in a harsh tone", again ordered Isabel to fetch a glass of water for her, "because she was thirsty". It is also said that Isabel, "terrified", informed Luísa that she was a customer of the establishment, and not an employee of the place, "as if it were not credible that a black woman could be in that restaurant as a customer". It is also stated in the process that the employees of the site would all be in uniform. The lawyer also questioned Luísa why she believed that she was an employee of the place, when Luísa "dodged".^[53]

Isabel filed a lawsuit at the Rio de Janeiro Court of Justice, requesting compensation of R$ 10,000 for moral damages for Luísa and for the inn, as well as public retraction and the "posting of informational posters about the prohibition of racist practices in the countryside of the restaurant, as an educational measure".^[54]

In September 2020, Luísa spoke through her Twitter, denying the accusations and telling people not to believe the story. In September 2022, the case gained new repercussions, when presenter Danilo Gentili accused the press and gossip sites of purposely "ignoring" this controversy involving Luísa.^[55]

On October 5, 2022, Luísa publicly apologized to Isabel Macedo de Jesus: "The way I addressed Mrs. Isabel translated into an act of reproduction of structural racism, which was in no way my intention", wrote the singer on Twitter. The singer also announced that she would accept the requests made by Isabel in the process and that she would seek to reach an agreement with her.^[56] Luísa also spoke on her Instagram, apologizing to Isabel and to those who felt offended by the case.^[57][58][59]

Television