One of the few women who attended the protest (Picture: Reuters)

A protest calling for an end to a ban on topless sunbathing turned into a farce when fewer than a dozen of the 2,000 women who had pledged to take their tops off during the demonstration turned up.

The very few who did take part in the protest on Rio de Janeiro’s Ipanema beach were instead met by hundreds of men and photographers who descended on the beach on Saturday morning to witness the event.

Hundreds of men descended on the beach for the protest (Picture: Reuters)

According to the BBC, organisers said the majority of the women who had claimed they were going to attend but failed to show probably felt too intimidated.

Organisers said it was a pity the event became a media circus (Picture: Reuters)

‘It is a pity it became a media circus. What really amazes me is the number of men who came here just to see women’s chests,’ organiser Ana Rios said.


Protesters claim the topless ban is outdated (Picture: AP)

Protesters argue the current legislation is out of date and point to the fact nudity is tolerated during Rio’s annual carnival.

Men take part in the protest at Ipanema beach (Picture: EPA)